Scaly Leg Mites - Need Best / Easiest / Quickest Solution - Scaley

[froggiesheins]

Good morning, sorry for only replying now but Namibia was once again down on the internet. Ok here are some pics of my 2 involved chicks. It was hard to get the picture since they colour mingle with the sand in the fruit tree orchard

Hi chicken namibia, I reposted my information of getting rid of scaley leg mites. TRIED MANY TIMES AND WORKS GOOD! I am not one to say this is the ONLY way to do it, but it is the best way to get rid of them and keep 'em gone. I found soaking the feet to be a pain in the butt so wanted to find another way less messy. All the birds I have done have never had their cages cleaned or de bugged or any of that sort of stuff and they never got it back......go figure. BUT I live in a cry climate so maybe that has something to do with it. P.S. The bird in the pics WAS the worst case I have ever had.....it was heart breaking......sigh....

 

[dthomascg]

Fish oil is not the main ingredient in WD-40, in fact, it has ZERO fish oil in it. WD-40 is a blend of lubricants (dino and synthetic), anti corrosion agents, penetrators and cleaning solvents. I REALLY dont think this stuff should be used on chickens. A lot of myths have been floating around the internet lately about all the uses for wd-40, but it is some pretty nasty stuff when it comes down to it. If you have ever gotten it in your eyes, or had it drip on more sensitive skin like your arm pit (looong story), it will make you think twice about using it on your chickens. Great for the tool box, but leave it out of your poultry first aid kit. Here is a link to WD-40s own site dispelling myths about their product.

http://wd40.com/about-us/myths-legends-fun-facts/

Dan

 

[froggiesheins]

It takes a good while for scale mites to do that level of damage, so I'm wondering how often you look at the bird's feet?  I've noticed others with the same level of damage on this thread and it always begs the question~how in the world did they get that bad before someone noticed? 

I know...not constructive, but in a way it is....good husbandry includes checking your flock appearance frequently, even down to the toes.  That doesn't mean you have to handle them all the time, a good glance can see something like this from several yards distance. 

For feet like that I'd soak, scrub lightly but I'd not be prying off any of that scale until it has been treated and they start to naturally slough off as new and healthy scales grow in underneath.  If you can't afford NuStock or do not have a source, castor oil can be found at any drug store and even at Dollar General and is a great and effective scale mite treatment.  It's all natural, the correct viscosity to penetrate scale layers, is a great emollient and it has a dual action of smothering the mites and preventing further infestation.  It will soften those scales and promote healthy regrowth of the new scales. 

I'm very impressed with castor oil for scale mite treatment.  For your bird, I'd soak, scrub lightly and gently, treat and wait.  In a couple of weeks I'd repeat this and you may get to remove old scales that are lifting and falling off at that time. 

 

EXCELLENT INFO BEE KISSED

 

[LaLa Chickie]

It takes a good while for scale mites to do that level of damage, so I'm wondering how often you look at the bird's feet? I've noticed others with the same level of damage on this thread and it always begs the question~how in the world did they get that bad before someone noticed?

I know...not constructive, but in a way it is....good husbandry includes checking your flock appearance frequently, even down to the toes. That doesn't mean you have to handle them all the time, a good glance can see something like this from several yards distance.

For feet like that I'd soak, scrub lightly but I'd not be prying off any of that scale until it has been treated and they start to naturally slough off as new and healthy scales grow in underneath. If you can't afford NuStock or do not have a source, castor oil can be found at any drug store and even at Dollar General and is a great and effective scale mite treatment. It's all natural, the correct viscosity to penetrate scale layers, is a great emollient and it has a dual action of smothering the mites and preventing further infestation. It will soften those scales and promote healthy regrowth of the new scales.

I'm very impressed with castor oil for scale mite treatment. For your bird, I'd soak, scrub lightly and gently, treat and wait. In a couple of weeks I'd repeat this and you may get to remove old scales that are lifting and falling off at that time.

I was wondering the same thing. But, I will say although I've had Hens for 9yrs, I've never had any mites until I rescued a Rooster and he had legs like that. I thought it was old age. We had to get rid of him within 2months, but just because of the crowing. I'd have never known had I not posted pictures of his beautiful self and someone told me about mites from his photo. It made sense to me that my "Lady" black star was infested by him. I atleast read a lot and tried all the treatments but she died in my arms. Very sad day. She was 3yrs old. Atleast now I know what I'm looking at. I handle my Hens daily but I wouldn't have ever known without this site. Thank you everyone for all your important information.

 

[LaLa Chickie]

Just read through all 20 pages. I adopted a hen and thought her feet were nasty but I am new to chickens so thought they just had nasty feet. Sure, hers looked worse than my chicks' but my chicks were pampered by my standards so it made sense. Ran across SLM information by accident. Now, I'm quite angry at myself and trying to figure out the best plan of action. I've been attempting the deep litter method for my coop and it seems to be okay but it isn't perfect. Either way, DE is a normal part of my coop, run, brooder, etc. (see my previous comment) and yet this appears to be spreading to my other girls. They get garlic in their water often and always in their food so garlic won't cure it alone. I've been putting coconut oil on their legs but do not feel this is enough. I guess it is time to completely strip the coop, bathe, scrub, and slather feet. Joy. Just ordered some Nu-stock. Won't be adopting more grown or half grown birds again. Chicks only from now on. The amount of help this hen has needed is just upsetting. Will need to stay away from craigslist and such from now on, as well, since I can't seem to stop myself from wanting to save birds. Jeez.

I had a similar situation. I feel the same way. No more rescues for me....

 

[Beekissed]

I was wondering the same thing. But, I will say although I've had Hens for 9yrs, I've never had any mites until I rescued a Rooster and he had legs like that. I thought it was old age. We had to get rid of him within 2months, but just because of the crowing. I'd have never known had I not posted pictures of his beautiful self and someone told me about mites from his photo. It made sense to me that my "Lady" black star was infested by him. I atleast read a lot and tried all the treatments but she died in my arms. Very sad day. She was 3yrs old. Atleast now I know what I'm looking at. I handle my Hens daily but I wouldn't have ever known without this site. Thank you everyone for all your important information.

Happened to me too. Never had scale mite in my flocks...ever. Or any other kind of parasite. Then I took over some "free" hens that a friend begged me to take from someone they knew. They looked good, no evidence of scale mites on their legs..but there was a red streak running up their legs that I had never seen before. Now that streak is very familiar to me..it is something that is left behind after a scale mite infestation on some birds. My flock got their little surprises and I was dealing with SLM for the first time. Enter the NS after trying the Vaseline, cooking oil, olive oil, bag balm, etc.

NS had it gone in one treatment and the residue from their feet that was left on the roosts seemed to prevent recurrence.

Never again on the adopted birds, "free" birds.

Not worth it.

 

[LaLa Chickie]

Happened to me too. Never had scale mite in my flocks...ever. Or any other kind of parasite. Then I took over some "free" hens that a friend begged me to take from someone they knew. They looked good, no evidence of scale mites on their legs..but there was a red streak running up their legs that I had never seen before. Now that streak is very familiar to me..it is something that is left behind after a scale mite infestation on some birds. My flock got their little surprises and I was dealing with SLM for the first time. Enter the NS after trying the Vaseline, cooking oil, olive oil, bag balm, etc.

NS had it gone in one treatment and the residue from their feet that was left on the roosts seemed to prevent recurrence.

Never again on the adopted birds, "free" birds.

Not worth it.

I'm sorry

What is NS...? LOL Maybe "NOT SO" Funny ...

 

[froggiesheins]

I am throwing this in here as FOOD FOR THOUGHT. There are many bugs that can infest a chicken, lice, mites, fleas, ticks and of course leg mites. Leg mites ONLY infest the leg under the scales. It takes YEARS before leg mites can kill a chicken. BUT lice/mites can take down a chicken relativley fast if there enough of them to suck out the life on a chickens body.
Scaley leg mites invade undere the scales to get to the soft skin, they work their way into a joint and eat away everything till the joint dies and then a toe falls off. GROSS yes!
Within a pen of chickens, I have seen only one have them and no one else....
I am GUESSING these free or rescued birds had ALOT more going on then just leg mites....I have rescued and rehomed or kept , lost count after 40, and not ONE has died because of leg mites or anything else for that matter....I like to think I practice good animal care..LOL
OK, I get off my soap box...... I just LOVE the bird!

 

[froggiesheins]

To LaLachick....NS is NuStock I believe......

 

[Fancychooklady]

I can't get nu stock here either, but it is 73% sulphur , which is I always have on hand, for lice on my angora goats. Mixed in with the Vaseline , makes a good cost effective alternative.