Scaly leg mites? Or something else?

[renk777]

It sounds like you are describing roost mites. I have always had success in getting rid of them by spraying the roost several times rather than the chickens. That pretty much ends it for the season. Sometimes they get in the nest boxes too, so you can empty them, spray them and put in new straw. Most of them seem to go back to the roost during the day as that is where they lay their eggs. I use a commercial flea spray during the day when the birds are outside. Since we have moved we haven't had any. Whatever other feather parasites our birds may have never rise to the level of a problem. They are healthy and dust bathe and preen to keep things under control on their own. I think that possibly the birds with tighter feathering like wild chickens don't have as many problems as do fluffier birds. We have crossed game blood into our flock and with it came an increase in vitality and length of life. I still have a few birds that get leg mites. Some seem more susceptible than others.

We had mites last summer...tried some pyrethrin dust and a neem spray I made up. Sprayed obvious infestation hangouts with rubbing alcohol and then spread DE in shavings, boxes, crevices, seams, and along roost bars and where they meet the walls. Worked beautifully. Gone in no time. I've been watching for them to return but so far, no signs except one bird (who happens to be a year old hormonal roo) that suddenly has red legs. I've noticed that he simultaneously has been trying to impress me with a lowered wing and dance. So I'm starting to think the suggestion that it might be hormonal holds some weight. Because aside from a few raised scales on the feathered portions, without the red hue, they just look like gnarly roo feet <3

 

[renk777]

Does the rooster seem to be bothered in any way. Perhaps this is just how his legs are.
Take a look at this roo ... legs look bad but it is normal for the breed
http://www.amusingplanet.com/2015/06/the-dragon-like-legs-of-dong-tao-chicken.html
I've have roos that loose all the feathers on the front of their thighs. The skin underneath is bright red. As far as I can tell its just something in their genetics. Looked bad at first but now I just accept that that is how those roos are. If the rooster isn't lame and the condition doesn't get worse maybe its something you can just ignore......

We have a few birds with a few feathers on their legs that don't come from feathered legged breeds and one Faverolle. Frankly I dislike it as it is not very functional and certainly not a trait on the wild Red Jungle Fowl. IMO it seems like it would be better to breed it back out of the bloodlines. Not that anyone is interested in my opinion on the matter

Well, they're certainly cleaner haha so the red stands out more. I've seen pics of those Vietnamese birds...ew...those legs are really something! I guess if I don't see any signs of mites tonight and the red fades as summer approaches, perhaps it is just hormonal though he definitely has some raised scales. He gets around fine. Aside from plucking his leg feathers out, he doesn't act unusual. He has some trouble mounting the girls but he's a big bird....kind of hard to sit on a slippery slope of shiny feathers, I would think. He eats and preens and struts around. Doesn't act sick. Will let you all know if I find any creepies crawling around in the dark!

 

[renk777]

Please excuse me. When you said you were treating your bird, I assumed you meant on a daily basis. While your treatment is overkill as a single treatment, no treatment for mites, a bacterial problem, or a fungal problem is going to work if you only do it once every 3 weeks. Since you've discovered the irritation around the vent too, I'd suggest starting with neosporin. Instead of spraying the entire coop, you can use a powder to dust the roosts, nest boxes, and birds. Repeat in 7 days to kill newly hatched nits. It will as least hold them at bay until you can spray.

Going to pick up some neosporin in AM. Will keep you posted Thanks!

 

[renk777]

So...too hard to grab him last night so going to try again tonight before he goes in. Took a pic of his bare patch this morning but it's not great. He wasn't into the photo op when he preferred to be eating. Had to take it in selfie mode so that I could face him the right direction without jumping off. Not the best pic but it's a bare patch. Not crusty or dirty and feathers surrounding it are clean and fluffy. Aside from the 'hormonal' red, I'd think it was supposed to look like that unless I knew better. Somewhat of a newb so this is the first I've inspected a roo-rear to this extent haha

 

[renk777]

And here's one of the girls with feathers missing on neck. Beginning of molt? There are a few like this....they were hatched Nov 2016 so I'm expecting them to molt soon....

 

[Kiki]

And here's one of the girls with feathers missing on neck. Beginning of molt? There are a few like this....they were hatched Nov 2016 so I'm expecting them to molt soon....View attachment 1352582

What part of the world do you live in?
What is your weather like right now?

 

[renk777]

What part of the world do you live in?
What is your weather like right now?

I'm in New Jersey. Winters get really cold here starting in January. Below 0 is not uncommon. Temps at night have finally settled in the 30s...this past week, we hit 60s a couple times during the day. We've had a lot of precipitation on and off for months now. I pretty much buy shavings weekly to distribute in run after it rains. I shovel out excess, rake, and then spread shavings so that upper layer of poop and such is constantly removed and turned over. SO while it's raining, there are puddles but the birds aren't as active in the rain. I'm amending the soil as soon as it stops so it's not as though they're standing in puddles. Our tractor and grey coop had the mites last year and we treated and haven't seen any signs since. Our insulated coop has never had a mite infestation (not that it can't / won't happen) and that's the one they're currently choosing. Come summer, they prefer the grey coop because it doesn't get as hot. I don't see any signs of mites at the moment and every bird I pick up and inspect has clean, pale pink skin and dirt-free vent so I just find it hard to believe it's mites. Not ruling it out until tonight but aside from feathers going missing in throat area on some birds that I expect to molt any day, and the roos gnarly feet, the flock acts and appears healthy.

 

[Folly's place]

Molting birds can loo awful! I have a few right now, and it's not pretty. It sounds like your flock is doing fine.
Mary

 

[renk777]

Molting birds can loo awful! I have a few right now, and it's not pretty. It sounds like your flock is doing fine.
Mary

Well, that reassures me! I've had time to sleep on it and I've gotten some great advice. I'm not a fan of any kind of medication as I'm big into orgainic and holistic living but if applying Neosporin to a roo will prevent having to medically treat (and withdraw eggs from) an entire flock, I'm okay with that. Going to check coop again tonight when it's dark before they go in...I'll shut the door so they can't get in until I've scoured the coop and Sir Jasper's back end. If I see mites, I'll address them with the DE and as I have in the past...but I'll be open to the spray mentioned if I need something a bit more hardcore. In the meantime, it can't hurt to put neosporin on Jasper's legs. I'll use Petroleum Jelly every few days as well to suffocate anything that I can't see. Perhaps he just has gnarly feet and the red from hormones is making them look really bad. There are many things I love about having chickens; one is that you learn something new constantly. Hoping this thread will help others down the road that experience anything similar. Will keep you all posted with how things turn out <3

 

[Kiki]

May I suggest you throw the DE in the trash and not use it.
It could hurt them in more ways than one.
It could possible irritate their skin and make things worse too.