Scaly Leg Mite + Feather Feet Questions

[thecatumbrella]

I have a flock of 14 week-old Cochin Bantams (aka Pekin Bantams) and their legs are extremely feathered. As in, I cannot properly monitor their legs for mites. It also doesn't help that they kick like they're riding in the Tour de France for every health check. I did notice some darker, raised scales on one of my birds (will post pics later and tag). So my questions...

1. Are feet sufficient to monitor for scaly leg mites? Like I said, it's very very hard to peak at the legs, even with two people. They're also full of quills for their last juvenile molt. I don't want to hurt them by digging around in such a tight area.
2. Is Elector PSP the way to go? I know lots of people do epsom soaks and oil, but that sounds like a greasy disaster for a breed with feather pants. And like I said, I don't have access to the scales on the legs for scrubbing or manual lubing.
3. What can I do to prevent scaly leg mites? I've done plenty of reading, and other than keeping my birds in the vacuum of space, it seems like it's almost inevitable. We do not free range. Their run has fresh mulch that I keep as dry as possible. No obvious rodent issues. Our biosecurity is so-so. We only wear our garden shoes in there (working on getting chicken-only shoes stored inside the run), but we live in the woods. There are birds and rodents everywhere. We even use a plastic coop (Omlet brand) that I clean top to bottom weekly.
4. Would switching from mulch to sand make a lick of difference?

I've attached a photo for anyone unfamiliar with this breed. Not exaggerating on the feathered legs. They're like Wookiees.

Thanks for your help. Will update later with photos of the suspicious leg scales.

 

[Shadrach]

I have a flock of 14 week-old Cochin Bantams (aka Pekin Bantams) and their legs are extremely feathered. As in, I cannot properly monitor their legs for mites. It also doesn't help that they kick like they're riding in the Tour de France for every health check. I did notice some darker, raised scales on one of my birds (will post pics later and tag). So my questions...

1. Are feet sufficient to monitor for scaly leg mites? Like I said, it's very very hard to peak at the legs, even with two people. They're also full of quills for their last juvenile molt. I don't want to hurt them by digging around in such a tight area.
2. Is Elector PSP the way to go? I know lots of people do epsom soaks and oil, but that sounds like a greasy disaster for a breed with feather pants. And like I said, I don't have access to the scales on the legs for scrubbing or manual lubing.
3. What can I do to prevent scaly leg mites? I've done plenty of reading, and other than keeping my birds in the vacuum of space, it seems like it's almost inevitable. We do not free range. Their run has fresh mulch that I keep as dry as possible. No obvious rodent issues. Our biosecurity is so-so. We only wear our garden shoes in there (working on getting chicken-only shoes stored inside the run), but we live in the woods. There are birds and rodents everywhere. We even use a plastic coop (Omlet brand) that I clean top to bottom weekly.
4. Would switching from mulch to sand make a lick of difference?

I've attached a photo for anyone unfamiliar with this breed. Not exaggerating on the feathered legs. They're like Wookiees.

Thanks for your help. Will update later with photos of the suspicious leg scales.

Feathered legs and feet make most of the usual recommendations impracticable.
You've certainly got your work cut out with your wookiees.
It would seem that susceptibility to scaly leg mite is a genetic problem rather than lack of care on the part of the keeper. I've had and have some birds that pick the mites up like magnets and others who just don't suffer from them all living together. The implication is that the normal recommendation to isolate the infected bird because the rest will catch t could be wrong.

I would try a surgical spirit (it may be called Rubbing Alcohol where you are) foot and leg bath. Fill a basin or similar with the alcohol and make the bird stand in it for a couple of minutes. It's a reasonably mess free option provided the basin doesn't get knocked over and it will kill the live mites. That unfortunately still leaves the mite eggs so this foot and leg bathing is likely to be an ongoing task.

You could consider trying this once you've dealt with the worst of the mites more as conditioning and prevention.

https://www.ballistol-shop.de/Animal-Care-Oil-Ballistol-Animal-mild-aminal-care-500-ml_B-S_340.html

I've had mixed results with it so far.

 

[thecatumbrella]

Feathered legs and feet make most of the usual recommendations impracticable.
You've certainly got your work cut out with your wookiees.
It would seem that susceptibility to scaly leg mite is a genetic problem rather than lack of care on the part of the keeper. I've had and have some birds that pick the mites up like magnets and others who just don't suffer from them all living together. The implication is that the normal recommendation to isolate the infected bird because the rest will catch t could be wrong.

I would try a surgical spirit (it may be called Rubbing Alcohol where you are) foot and leg bath. Fill a basin or similar with the alcohol and make the bird stand in it for a couple of minutes. It's a reasonably mess free option provided the basin doesn't get knocked over and it will kill the live mites. That unfortunately still leaves the mite eggs so this foot and leg bathing is likely to be an ongoing task.

You could consider trying this once you've dealt with the worst of the mites more as conditioning and prevention.

https://www.ballistol-shop.de/Animal-Care-Oil-Ballistol-Animal-mild-aminal-care-500-ml_B-S_340.html

I've had mixed results with it so far.

I don't know what I was thinking when I got these birds, but they are awfully cute and goofy.

One question about the surgical spirit: rubbing alcohol burns like the dickens on any compromised skin. Not sure if that applies to scaly leg mites, or if that's more of a crust. Do you dilute it at all?

The UK always gets the best chicken stuff, so I'll have to jump through some hoops to get the Ballistol!

 

[Shadrach]

I don't know what I was thinking when I got these birds, but they are awfully cute and goofy.

One question about the surgical spirit: rubbing alcohol burns like the dickens on any compromised skin. Not sure if that applies to scaly leg mites, or if that's more of a crust. Do you dilute it at all?

The UK always gets the best chicken stuff, so I'll have to jump through some hoops to get the Ballistol!

I don't dilute it. I've used it on my own wounds.