Scaly leg mites - early signs?

[beethechicken]

Hi! I was checking over the girls today and noticed one had slightly raised scales. She seems very healthy and runs around with her usual vigour. But I realised I know nothing about how to look out for these sorts of mites (other than the scales) or how to treat them. Any info would be really appreciated!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I believe it looks normal, but definitely keep an eye on them.

 

[beethechicken]

I believe it looks normal, but definitely keep an eye on them.

Ok, thank you! I'm starting to get a little paranoid about mites due to the warmer weather! However, I will keep an eye on all of them.

 

[LMat]

My girls had scaly leg mites earlier this year!! At least that's what I assumed they were. I checked them over once I realized the situation and could only find creepy crawlers on their legs, mostly at the top, where the feathers meet the legs, so I assumed leg mites. They looked like tiny moving specks.
Here's the thing, I only noticed my birds had bugs because I noticed them crawling on me!! Every time I'd go outside and sit down, my friendly BR would jump on my lap for a visit and I'd notice little tiny bugs crawling on my arms or jeans!!! Eeeeeeeekkk!! That's when I started inspecting their bodies and legs and coop. Sure enough, there were a bunch under their bedding and some on their legs. I caught it before it got out of hand, their scales weren't starting to lift yet.
I ended up using some kind of "natural" spray on their legs, only because that's the only thing my feed store carried at the time. Worked well enough. I also put down some DE under their bedding and just try to clean the coop more often. Haven't noticed creepy crawlers since, on me or them!!

 

[beethechicken]

My girls had scaly leg mites earlier this year!! At least that's what I assumed they were. I checked them over once I realized the situation and could only find creepy crawlers on their legs, mostly at the top, where the feathers meet the legs, so I assumed leg mites. They looked like tiny moving specks.
Here's the thing, I only noticed my birds had bugs because I noticed them crawling on me!! Every time I'd go outside and sit down, my friendly BR would jump on my lap for a visit and I'd notice little tiny bugs crawling on my arms or jeans!!! Eeeeeeeekkk!! That's when I started inspecting their bodies and legs and coop. Sure enough, there were a bunch under their bedding and some on their legs. I caught it before it got out of hand, their scales weren't starting to lift yet.
I ended up using some kind of "natural" spray on their legs, only because that's the only thing my feed store carried at the time. Worked well enough. I also put down some DE under their bedding and just try to clean the coop more often. Haven't noticed creepy crawlers since, on me or them!!

Thank you so much for the info!!! I think I'll treat them with a spray just in case - I suppose you can never be too careful! I did a major clean out of the coop the other day with all sorts of organic mite killing sprays and dusted them all thorougly with DE so hopefully that will have done something.
Anyway, will try spray! Thanks again

 

[TalkALittle]

Scaly leg mites are microscopic. You will not see them on examination. They are like a mange. They burrow under the skin between the scales and spend almost their entire life on the bird. Dusts and powders don't do much--you have to treat the bird.

Yes, I believe the pics show what could be a very early stage case of mites. There are some sprays you can use, but you need to apply them often and make sure it gets under the scales. Additionally, you can apply something like Bag Balm to the legs to smother the mites but it needs to be done thoroughly and frequently to be effective.

I have one hen with a really bad case that I've been battling for about a year at least. My other birds seem to be more resistant as only a couple have a few lifting scales. I've begun to use fipronil on her out of desperation. It is helping and her legs look much better after 3 months. I'm also doing monthly leg soaks and scrubs to remove the old scales and applying Bag Balm to her legs. Scaly leg mites can also be treated with ivermectin injections, but I'd need to find a vet that treats chickens. I may eventually go that route.

If I were you, I'd treat it as if it were leg mites. Leg mites are a pain in the butt and if left untreated can cripple a bird so it's better to be safe than sorry. Soak, scrub, spray, and grease up their legs. Do it again in 1 week, then twice more at 2 week intervals. Clean and dispose of all bedding in the nest boxes (because birds spend a lot of time in there it could harbor mites) and spray well with a miticide. Paint the nest boxes if they are a porous surface to make subsequent cleaning easier. Clean nest boxes in this manner frequently and at least every time you treat the birds legs.

 

[beethechicken]

Scaly leg mites are microscopic. You will not see them on examination. They are like a mange. They burrow under the skin between the scales and spend almost their entire life on the bird. Dusts and powders don't do much--you have to treat the bird.

Yes, I believe the pics show what could be a very early stage case of mites. There are some sprays you can use, but you need to apply them often and make sure it gets under the scales. Additionally, you can apply something like Bag Balm to the legs to smother the mites but it needs to be done thoroughly and frequently to be effective.

I have one hen with a really bad case that I've been battling for about a year at least. My other birds seem to be more resistant as only a couple have a few lifting scales. I've begun to use fipronil on her out of desperation. It is helping and her legs look much better after 3 months. I'm also doing monthly leg soaks and scrubs to remove the old scales and applying Bag Balm to her legs. Scaly leg mites can also be treated with ivermectin injections, but I'd need to find a vet that treats chickens. I may eventually go that route.

If I were you, I'd treat it as if it were leg mites. Leg mites are a pain in the butt and if left untreated can cripple a bird so it's better to be safe than sorry. Soak, scrub, spray, and grease up their legs. Do it again in 1 week, then twice more at 2 week intervals. Clean and dispose of all bedding in the nest boxes (because birds spend a lot of time in there it could harbor mites) and spray well with a miticide. Paint the nest boxes if they are a porous surface to make subsequent cleaning easier. Clean nest boxes in this manner frequently and at least every time you treat the birds legs.

Ahh thank you so much! Yes I agree, I think I'd better treat her (and maybe all the girls??) I've been looking online at some scaly leg mite treatments.... what do you think of the Nettex brand? What brand do you use?

 

[TalkALittle]

I'm in the US and I don't think Nettex is available here so I have no experience with it. I googled it though and it sounds good. I use a spray from Manna.

 

[aart]

Nettex brand?

I use a spray from Manna.

What are the active ingredients of these products?