Rooster limping. Scaly leg mites?

[TerryBowleg]

 

[Lillith37]

Looks like he might have an early case of SLM but there is also that red gash on one leg. Perhaps he hurt himself? Does he have any wounds on the bottom of his feet?

 

[TerryBowleg]

Looks like he might have an early case of SLM but there is also that red gash on one leg. Perhaps he hurt himself? Does he have any wounds on the bottom of his feet?

Bottom of feet look fine. Here’s a pic I tried to get of one. They both look about the same. He’s got scabs on the outside of both of his legs…I was wondering if maybe rats or mice are getting at him at night, but I’ve got 19 hens and nothing seems to be getting them. Maybe he had an encounter with something free ranging the other day that injured him. No idea

 

[Lillith37]

Bottom of feet look fine. Here’s a pic I tried to get of one. They both look about the same. He’s got scabs on the outside of both of his legs…I was wondering if maybe rats or mice are getting at him at night, but I’ve got 19 hens and nothing seems to be getting them. Maybe he had an encounter with something free ranging the other day that injured him. No idea

I’d give him a foot and leg bath (after roosting, at night so he’s calmer) and use a soft toothbrush to clean the scales. Then you can apply castor oil or Vaseline to his legs to smother the mites. Do this several times a week.

You could use a mite medication alongside if you wanted.

The scales sometimes flatten down again once the mites are dead but sometimes they don’t and they won’t look normal again until they are shed and new ones grow.