Scaly Leg Mites

[CaitlynNichols]

Just yesterday, my father bought two Silkie Bantams from a farm near by. Today I got to get a good look at them, and I noticed something strange about their legs. When I did, I noticed right away that they have Scaly Leg Mites. (I've seen/read it before in an article, so I knew what it was when I examined the two new Silkies.) Now, I'm not sure if there's a cure for Scaly Leg Mites (I'm a little new to the whole chicken thing anyhow. I learn new things every day.) However, is there a treatment to treat the Scaly Leg Mites like an antibiotic or a cream? We called our vet, but haven't heard a response back yet, so I wanted to ask here and see if people know the answer for Scaly Leg Mites.

 

[Dar]

I went to the drug store and bought the cream to treat scabies on humans.

For that one tube i treated 17+ standard sized chickens for $20~

their legs look great and it was a one time treatment

 

[Terri O]

That is a good idea! I am doing the more messy and labor intensive; vaseline and carbaryl powder every other day. Their legs are improving but I wish I had know about the scabies cream! TErri O--whos hand are getting really soft now too--added bonus!

 

[CaitlynNichols]

That's great! The vet just called us back, and told us to do the same thing with the vaseline and carbaryl, even the cream too.
Thank you guys!

 

[kathyinmo]

Here is a copy of threehorses' excellent advice to another:
copied from this thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=2740856

First, soak the bird's legs in a solution of warm water with some epsom salts in it to soften the scales. Mites are actually burrowed into the skin of the leg and are causing irritation and build up of stuff which is raising the scales and irritating the skin. The soaking softens up the stuff. You then use a toothbrush to scrub at the legs to remove whatever build up you can. Pat the legs dry.

Then you can either use ivomec 1% injectable topically on the legs, or you can use pour-on ivermectin 5% cattle wormer on the bird - IF - your birds have been wormed within 6 months with a broad spectrum wormer.

Personally, I'd recommend the scrub, worm your flock with wazine 17 (piperazine 17) in the water, and use olive oil on the legs or VetRx daily for 2 weeks then worm them with the pour-on ivermectin (generic, 250ml bottles are the most affordable option). Worming all the flock with ivermectin will kill external parasites as it's likely other birds in the flock have mites but not signs of it yet on the legs. But you have more than one option there.​