Scaly leg mites?

[chickenmomma16]

A friend sent me this picture of her older hen. They trimmed her nails because they were long and she asked me what is wrong with her feet and I think it’s scaly leg mites. I’ve never had an issue with it but I read somewhere on BYC about slathering their legs in Vaseline or Vick’s? I can’t find the info I had read years ago. What is the suggested treatment for this?

 

[cleoandtheflock]

@Eggcessive
@Wyorp Rock
@casportpony
Could help
I don’t have any experience with scaly leg mites

 

[Eggcessive]

At first I would soak the legs in warm soapy water, and use an old toothbrush to very gently scrub the legs. Dry them, and once a week apply an oil, such as vaseline, castor oil, mineral oil, or vegetable oil, rubbing it well into the scales. Repeat for several weeks. Ivermectin pour on can work as well. It is a good idea to treat your coop with permethrin 10 spray. Here is a good link as well:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/scaly-leg-mites-in-chickens/

 

[Wyorp Rock]

View attachment 1707483 A friend sent me this picture of her older hen. They trimmed her nails because they were long and she asked me what is wrong with her feet and I think it’s scaly leg mites. I’ve never had an issue with it but I read somewhere on BYC about slathering their legs in Vaseline or Vick’s? I can’t find the info I had read years ago. What is the suggested treatment for this?

Good advice from @Eggcessive
You can also use Nu-Stock on the legs too. Any type of oil or ointment will kill the SLM and help heal the legs.
I agree, it would be a good idea to treat housing, nesting boxes, etc. with a Permethrin based poultry spray or dust. Elector PSP is also very effective from what I hear, but it's expensive.
They may want to look at the bottom of her feet just to make sure there is no bumblefoot. Working on the nails a few more times as they give her soaking will help too.

 

[chickenmomma16]

Thanks friends! I will pass along this info!

One more question, she has 4 other chickens she bought from me and they show no sign. This hen was one of her originals. Are the chances good that the others will get them?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thanks friends! I will pass along this info!

One more question, she has 4 other chickens she bought from me and they show no sign. This hen was one of her originals. Are the chances good that the others will get them?

Scaly Leg Mites can migrate to other birds, so it would be important for her to treat the housing and roosting bars.
It won't hurt a thing to put some oil of choice on the legs of the birds she got from you.

 

[katiegirl0225]

When my chickens and rooster had scaly leg mites I treated them each with warm soapy water and tooth brush once and then rubbed coconut and orange oil on them. After that I sprayed their legs and feet each night with mineral oil as they were roosting (as suggested by my vet). spraying them was so much easier and quicker than dipping them every other day. I did this for about 6 weeks. I cleaned the coop and treated it with diatomaceous earth. Fair warning...it can take months after you rid them of the mites before you start seeing improvements in their legs. I treated mine in october and they started looking better about a month ago. Out of my whole flock only a few were showing symptoms and the rooster was by far the worst. I went head and treated them all in the case that some had them without showing symptoms yet. Good luck!

 

[chickenmomma16]

You guys aren’t going to believe this, my friend started treatment yesterday and the hen died of a suspected heart attack. She was old and not used to handling. So sad.

 

[Eggcessive]

Oh no, that is sad. Sorry that your friend’s hen died.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

You guys aren’t going to believe this, my friend started treatment yesterday and the hen died of a suspected heart attack. She was old and not used to handling. So sad.