The only thing the oil does (any oil) is suffocate the mites so they'll die. It will help soothe the skin on the legs as previously mentioned, but it won't get rid of them for good. The only things that have ever worked for me were petroleum jelly and ivermectin.
I would use the jelly in the beginning stages when the scales of their legs only looked red and irritated and slightly raised. Once they get to the point where there's crust developing and it's becoming thick like plaque, that's when I'd bring in the heavy artillery. The ivermectin, You can put it on the skin behind the neck (just a dab), give it orally or inject it. I don't recommend the last two for home use if you're not familiar with its dosing. As always, please consult your Veterinarian first. These mites can lay dormant for many months until a new offering shows up and then it's...POW !!! They're all over it in seconds. Whatever you decide to use, just be sure to keep at it for a while (like 6 - 8 weeks) so you can follow their life cycle and kill all the offspring in all of their stages. Also, during this time, be on the lookout for any other illnesses or signs of infection because scaly leg mites are one of the leading causes of secondary infections and arthritis in birds. Chickens included. Hope this helps your little babies out. I have silkies too and it's always distressing to see them not well. Take care and good luck.
I would use the jelly in the beginning stages when the scales of their legs only looked red and irritated and slightly raised. Once they get to the point where there's crust developing and it's becoming thick like plaque, that's when I'd bring in the heavy artillery. The ivermectin, You can put it on the skin behind the neck (just a dab), give it orally or inject it. I don't recommend the last two for home use if you're not familiar with its dosing. As always, please consult your Veterinarian first. These mites can lay dormant for many months until a new offering shows up and then it's...POW !!! They're all over it in seconds. Whatever you decide to use, just be sure to keep at it for a while (like 6 - 8 weeks) so you can follow their life cycle and kill all the offspring in all of their stages. Also, during this time, be on the lookout for any other illnesses or signs of infection because scaly leg mites are one of the leading causes of secondary infections and arthritis in birds. Chickens included. Hope this helps your little babies out. I have silkies too and it's always distressing to see them not well. Take care and good luck.
