Scaly leg mite treatment

[luckychick105]

I have been away on holidays for the past two weeks and came back to find that our chicken has scaly leg mites. I have been reading up on it and found a couple of solutions... including the gasoline dip... I am wondering how safe this is, as I want to get rid of these mites as fast as I can, and it only takes 3 days. I am hoping to get new chcikens soon so I want the mites gone before they are here. Our flock was devastated by a fox attack leaving one of our chickens, who now has scaly leg mites. Would this treatment work, or would the gasoline be toxic for the poor hen, and if it was safe, would the be any substitute for A&D ointment, because I can't seem to find any nearby.

luckychick105

 

[Kris5902]

If you are willing to toss the eggs for a while, and can get it, ivermectin pour on is my preference. Soaking in warm water then applying Vaseline and oil on the legs takes longer, but is also effective if you’re diligent. I’m personally not a fan of Gasoline, it doesn’t seem very humane, would probably sting in any scrapes, and the fumes are probably not very good for the chicken.

I’m working on my fourth case of really bad SLM... as in missing large numbers of scales completely on the feet/unable to walk/lost a toe to them. The last three I’ve treated with the ivermectin, and it’s been much easier on all parties concerned... also kills lice and other nasties at the same time.

 

[RESQME49]

I have had good luck with just vasoline. Coat it on thick and really get it in the scales.

 

[Kris5902]

I like to mix my Vaseline with some mineral oil, so it softens a bit nicer and gets under the scales better. I also have some antibiotic ointment mixed in as well... they are always stepping in icky things and because mine have lost scales they sometimes scratch themselves with their toenails or beaks.

 

[cottagecheese]

Chickens in the (distant) past were 'treated' with gasoline or kerosene, but nobody on BYC uses that 'option'. Is it even an option? No, there are so many other things that work well and are not toxic or painful. The chicken-chick got this cringey idea from 'an expert', LOL expert. Just because someone is credentialed, it doesn't automatically follow that they know what they're doing.
I, too, had to do scaly leg mites homework in the past, and there's a comment on the chicken-chick blog that I'll never forget, it made me so sad... I really care about the feathered, so I went and retrieved that comment for you:

'I attempted #4 with gasoline, but the hen was not only high-stepping but also limping after dipping her feet into the gas, as if it were hurting her. I can't see any broken skin, but it occurs to me that the mites may be deeper into the flesh under the scales, and it concerned me enough to double-think the procedure. I also noticed she smelled strongly of gas even two days after. Are we sure that the gas itself is not painful or damaging to the chicken? by MGlenn

What really got me here was the fact that the hen still smelled strongly of gas two days later.... So, it's pure barbarity.

 

[Kris5902]

Chickens in the (distant) past were 'treated' with gasoline or kerosene, but nobody on BYC uses that 'option'. Is it even an option? No, there are so many other things that work well and are not toxic or painful. The chicken-chick got this cringey idea from 'an expert', LOL expert. Just because someone is credentialed, it doesn't automatically follow that they know what they're doing.
I, too, had to do scaly leg mites homework in the past, and there's a comment on the chicken-chick blog that I'll never forget, it made me so sad... I really care about the feathered, so I went and retrieved that comment for you:

'I attempted #4 with gasoline, but the hen was not only high-stepping but also limping after dipping her feet into the gas, as if it were hurting her. I can't see any broken skin, but it occurs to me that the mites may be deeper into the flesh under the scales, and it concerned me enough to double-think the procedure. I also noticed she smelled strongly of gas even two days after. Are we sure that the gas itself is not painful or damaging to the chicken? by MGlenn

What really got me here was the fact that the hen still smelled strongly of gas two days later.... So, it's pure barbarity.

Have to agree... I’m constantly filling things with our 20L jerrycans, and invariably the spouts get damaged and sometimes leak, and I spill on my hands. It does sting something awful in my cuts and scrapes, so I can’t imagine it would be any better on raw, mite infested tissues.

 

[luckychick105]

Thank you all for your replies, @Kris5902 I will see about getting the Ivermectin pour, after I have got that how long would the treatment take, I want to know approximately how long before I can get her companions, I don't want her to get lonely, and I don't want any new chicken to get the SLM.

 

[Kris5902]

Thank you all for your replies, @Kris5902 I will see about getting the Ivermectin pour, after I have got that how long would the treatment take, I want to know approximately how long before I can get her companions, I don't want her to get lonely, and I don't want any new chicken to get the SLM.

I believe @casportpony would be able to give you better information on this... I’ve just started using it myself on our not-quite-hopeless-yet chickens as I’m able to rescue them, and still look up the dosage every time I use it, I’ve got my affected chickens in a quarantine situation anyway so I haven’t been too worried about spreading them.

 

[luckychick105]

Would Ivomec cattle pour work or would I have to get one for poultry?

 

[Wickedchicken6]

Here is a bit of information on scaly leg mites that may assist you with understanding this type of mite and the timeline in which they reproduce.

http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/scaly-leg-mites

I've had roosters treated with injectable ivermectin by our vet. In our situation, it didn't seem to work for them. I have used an edible oil for their legs/feet, usually old cooking oil.

I've now gravitated to using a generic, spray cooking oil. This method is quick, inexpensive and usually doesn't involve having to handle birds if they tolerate your approach when they're on the roosts or once it's dark. The spray tends to stay on the leg as opposed to dripping off like other oils. The spray does involve propellants, for anyone who may try using a cooking spray...please be cognizant to have good ventilation as with the use of canned products under pressure.

I have moved to using edible cooking oils as opposed to other types of oil. Some of the birds will work at their legs when coated and I was concerned about toxicity if any were to ingest the oil applied, especially my tiny OEGBs. I use regular cooking oil to coat their roosts to inhibit scaly leg mites from spreading.