Scaly leg mites? Please see pics...

[hyzenthlay]

I just noticed that my 6 year old EE has some loose/raised scales on her legs. Is this a definite sign of scaly leg mites, or is it just because she is old (or a sign of some other issue)? She is still laying regularly (3-4 eggs/week) and otherwise seems healthy as far as I can tell.

Thanks for any opinions!

 

[cavemanrich]

I am not sure if you have mites there or not.. Mites are common though. One solution that I have used is .... I took margarine or other paste type shortening like Crisco and applied it to the legs. Somewhere I read that peeps use Vaseline.. I use eatable margarine because it is eatable when chicken picks her legs. The paste chokes off the mites. Worked well for my chickens.
WISHING YOU BEST.

 

[hyzenthlay]

Thanks, Cavemanrich! I like the idea of using something safe for consumption rather than motor oil/gasoline/kerosene as I have seen suggested in some threads.

I decided to go out and get pics of my other three adult hens for the sake of comparison, in case it helps. I also have 6 pullets in the same coop but separated by a screen door from the adults, but I didn't take pics of their legs because I think they are all normal for chicks.

Here is my Silver Laced Wyandotte, who is also 6 years old:


And here is my Barred Rock, who is 2 years old:


And the other EE, who is also 2 years old:

 

[Kbrindle28]

Hey I am not a professional but those don't look like Leg Mites. I adopted a few adult RR and they were pretty mistreated. they had mites and it was very noticeable. Your girl looks real good.

 

[circesfire]

I don't see anything I would be worried about, just her age probably. It's nice to see someone with six year old chickens! I hope mine live to be old ladies too!

 

[hyzenthlay]

Thanks, Kbrindle and circesfire! It's reassuring to hear that this doesn't look like anything bad. I only learned about leg mites recently, so I started paying closer attention to the hens' legs and I thought my older EE was maybe starting to look a little rough, and then when I took the pics I started to think, gee, maybe the others aren't just right, either! I hope I just got a little med students' disease/hypochondria here.

Our 6 year old hens have been remarkably healthy (knock on wood!) and are still laying a bunch a week, keeping up with the younger girls around the yard, etc. I know their laying is supposed to slow down each year after their second spring, but I just haven't noticed a huge difference over the years. And even if they stopped laying, they would always have a happy retirement home here!

 

[cavemanrich]

My EE is 9 years old. She was laying sporadically until about 2 months ago when she was attacked by neighbors dogs. She survived but is handicapped now. I will take care of her till the end.

 

[hyzenthlay]

She is beautiful--very striking!! It's great to hear that she has done so well for so long--I'm really sorry that she suffered such an attack, but how wonderful that she has good care and a good home with you for her whole lifetime.

 

[Weehopper]

Bag Balm works good for leg mites.

 

[egghead@1265]

I didn't read all replies here, but we dunked our hens feet in vegetable oil and had great success with it.

Also, Vaseline rubs on the legs helps.