treating leg mites in volume update..problem toe

[welasharon]

I went tonight and the boy I hired to help me and I got all the chickens' feet oiled. It took an hour and a half and my body hurts so. LOL I brought three home with me. A hen and two roosters I think they are. They have lost a lot of toes. I oiled them too and will treat them here. Some of/lots of the chickens had very long misshappened toe nails. I clipped a roosters' spur that was poking in his leg but there are lots and lots that I am going to have to go back and trim. Are they like dogs where you clip little at a time and let the quick move back? Some of them had nails that I know were more than two inches long. Why are they so long like that? I used vegetable oil and dunked them in a small bucket and rubbed the oil in their feet. My hands are very soft now! LOL
sharon

 

[Qi Chicken]

Good on you Sharon!! I'm so glad you're taking care of them. If you search for scaly leg mites in the search box there was a post initiated by Nifty-chicken that got a lot of good responses. Everyone wanted to help out the big cheese

! They had a lot of ideas for treating lots of chickens like making a little trough filled with oil that they had to walk through to get out of the coop. Treated themselves that way. I think quick and easy was the ivermectin. You're a good egg!

 

[welasharon]

I have ivomec pour on and I think the ones that were the worst I am going to put that on them too. I just felt like the oil would get them started off faster. I will post some pics of the ones I brought home. Many of them are going to need repeated treatments and cutting the nails is going to take a while to get done they are so long.
Side note: this was just a case of not knowing what to do and being overwhelmed. The man and his wife were so very appreciative and so nice to me tonight. They came down to offer help and asked questions about the chickens. Turns out they are both city slickers and hadn't a clue what to do. After we get the chickens past this crisis I think they will be fine. Now the couple has someone to call to ask about chicken things (and I've got ya'll) LOL

ETA: I went back and checked that thread...it is one I read earlier and was helpful. Wait till you see these chickens feet. It makes my heart hurt for them.

 

[welasharon]

Here are some pics of the three I brought home. I have oiled their feet twice now and clipped a bit off the nails.

 

[Carrie Lynn]

The pictures are so sad, thank heavens you got involved.
Are these birds small, or do they just look that way in the photos?
Carrie Lynn

 

[welasharon]

No they really are small. I have no idea what they are. I am afraid that these three are not going to be able to go back. They were in the pen that had over 20 chickens and some guineas and some turkeys in it. I don't think they can flourish well with their missing toes. Anyone know how often I can clip the nails? The remaining ones have really long nails but at least they have not lost toes. I think the issue with the nails may be that the ground is so compacted that they can't scratch around. I guess if I go take a pitchfork and turn it up it would help? Some had really swollen toes...some of the worst were feathered legged varieties.
sharon

 

[mmaddie's mom]

This place should be ashamed! Thank YOU for all you are doing for these poor birds. Is this bad enough, do you think, to get the local aspca involved? Losing toes is rather cruel!

 

[welasharon]

I was all fired up until I went out there last night. The couple pitched in to help and asked lots of questions and were just so grateful that I noticed and that I did something. I really think it was a case of ignorance and being overwhelmed. They are very nice and simple folk. The lady just didn't know what to do or whom to ask. I think the chickens will be fine and I will continue to help them. I told her that once we get past the crisis stage we will look at ongoing care. She was very receptive and seems willing to do whatever I tell her. I think she just needed someone to tell her what to do.
sharon

 

[vnploveschickens]

Bless you for caring so much about these chickens. When I saw your pictures, I almost cried. I did not realize what could happen to the legs and toes when left untreated. I have been treating one of my hens with vaseline and/or mineral oil. I got alot of good info in this thread. I'm going to look around for this NuStock too. Thank you!

Val

 

[Bird Collector]

Can you use pour on ivermectrin in part water and paint it on as stated for the injectable? I have mite problems now and again in my booted bantams and use bag balm. It works but it is a messy job. Thanks.