Scaly leg mite query

Sue

Sue

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One of my birds has a few raised scales on both feed and I have sprayed her twice, 4 days apart with scaly leg spray. Assuming it is scaly leg mite, how do I know that I have killed them with the spray?
 
The short answer is you won't for sure!! The mites are all but invisible, but the treatments available are pretty good on the whole and do what they say on their label. I suggest you follow the treatment guidelines as specified in the product instructions.
The problem with scaly leg is the mess the mites make remains long after they have been eradicated. The crust should eventually wear away, and the raised scales should moult out eventually to reveal new, more normal looking scales beneath. You can bathe a bird's legs in warm water to soften the deposits to help remove them, but resist the temptation to scrape or pick at the crusty growths to vigorously, as this can also remove the birds skin, or damage the scale bed.
 
My most recent newsletter from Flytes of Fancy has lots of Barrier products on offer ATM, including some ointment for scaly leg, which it says treats the mites as well as acting as 'hand cream' to make the dry scaly legs more comfortable. Sorry have deleted newsletter link but it will be on their website.
 
Thanks for you replies. Marigold, I also received that newsletter and it is the Barrier spray I have been using. I'm not so sure about putting any sort of cream or even Vaseline on the legs as surely they are going to peck at it and I don't know whether it is harmless if they do this.
 
Sue,
I was given Ivermectin drops some time ago by the vet, as it seems kill most things & impossible to put barrier creams on feathery legs! It kills the mite, but the visible 'evidence' stays put until (I presume), all the sales renew themselves naturally as Lordcluck says?
Others may disagree, but I was given the "Pharmaq Ivermectin Drops Mite Treatment 1% 10ml" & give my bantems 2 drops each, every 3 months. They have not had issues with lice or mite since & don't seem to suffer at dose time (unlike the dog).
 
We brush benzol Benzoate up the scales thoroughly. Can't tell if it has worked as LC says. Just have to wait and observe and we have had to re-treat a few 6 months later. Guess it would help if we oiled their scales and it would show up better -our ground seems to dry their scales up quite badly, particularly the areas with a lot of soot in.
 
Hi, I've had this once before with my bantam and the treatment I used worked so well I couldn't quite believe it. I just held each foot in a bowl of vegetable oil for 5 mins, once a day for 3 days and once again 7 days later for any more that might have cone back or babies that hatched, now her feet are back to being perfect. It took a few weeks for her feet to look nice again as it was pretty bad and I wasn't sure if I had done it enough but it was. I also powdered the coop with an all round lice/mite powder. I know you already have the product and I'm sure it has worked but if your worried about what you put on your hens feet this is natural and I guess cheaper than buying any product. Just thought I'd drop that in for everyone because it did the trick. :-)
 
Well there are two ways to tackle them Frenchchickens. Insecticides or suffocation. The advantages of your method are obvious. Great for the environment, effective and conditions the scales as well. Will give that a try I think next time we have a problem.
 
Frenchchickens123 said:
Hi, I've had this once before with my bantam and the treatment I used worked so well I couldn't quite believe it. I just held each foot in a bowl of vegetable oil for 5 mins, once a day for 3 days and once again 7 days later for any more that might have cone back or babies that hatched, now her feet are back to being perfect. It took a few weeks for her feet to look nice again as it was pretty bad and I wasn't sure if I had done it enough but it was. I also powdered the coop with an all round lice/mite powder. I know you already have the product and I'm sure it has worked but if your worried about what you put on your hens feet this is natural and I guess cheaper than buying any product. Just thought I'd drop that in for everyone because it did the trick. :-)
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That does sound a really good method, but she has feathered feet and I'm not sure how the oil would affect the feathers. For unfeathered feet it would be the ideal solution.
 
Well I must admit my bantams feathery feet didn't look pretty for a while but she must have cleaned them because a few days after I finished the treatment her feet were back to their beautiful selves :-)
 
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