vaseline? bag balm?

[LearningToFly]

We just got one of our adult hens about a month ago; she's 18 mos old. Her feet are kinda gnarly looking, very dry and bumpy. Today I was noticing what I think are cracks that might be bleeding.

I was going to try coating her feet in vaseline for protection from the elements, etc., but I don't have any and it will be days before I do.

However, I have bag balm. Can I put that on her feet?

What could be causing this, anyway? Or is it normal chicken feet? My other hens don't look like this, but they're only about 8 months old.

 

[morelcabin]

sounds like it could be scaly leg mites...and your other birds will eventually get like that as well if it isn't treated. Do a quick search on it, there are different treatments

 

[chickenlady]

Yup, sounds like leg mites. You'll want to get rid of these. I've heard ivermectin and also baby oil.

 

[Chicken Woman]

In a couple of my books on chickens it says to use 1 teaspoon kerosene and 5 teaspoons cooking oil. Wash legs and feet , dry and swab this stuff on. Wait a week and do it again for 4 weeks.
Might not hurt to treat all of them at once.

 

[jab91864]

this might help

http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/Health/Dis/scaly.html

Julie

 

[LearningToFly]

Thanks, Julie.

Eeew, that's exactly what Jane's feet look like. Thankfully Helen, Ethyl and Lucie are not suffering yet.

Poor Jane was bleeding, so I coated her legs and feet today with Bag Balm, and will continue to do so 2x a week and see what happens. I'll also keep an eye on the other girls.

 

[lichick28]

If her feet are bleeding I wouldnt put kerosene on them right now. What about veg. or olive oil to help with the cracking until you can get medicine. I read somewhere about an over the counter med for people that also treats scaly leg mites something like CAMPHO----? hopefully someone knows the word I'm looking for.

 

[moduckman]

It definitely sounds like leg mites. Try WD 40 and Sevin dust on top of that. Do this every three days for two weeks.

 

[Bobbi Jack]

Seems like there are a lot of different options for what you can use to treat it. I use 1 part kerosene/3 parts Linseed oil, and it seems to work pretty well.
Whatever you use, you should also put it on your roosts, as the mites spend some of their time burrowed in them.

 

[sammi]

Bag Balm...don't get it on the feathers.
I'd consider treating the cracks with neosporin.
don't use the kind with pain killer.

and treat for mites.
Ivermec or Eprinex..
Sevin might work..but Ivermec works best with Scaley Leg.

do you have any antibiotic available?

there is a vet ointment that has antibiotic and antifungal..
(Scaley Leg mites can sometimes cause both infections)..

Panalog..or the generic Animax..