hi, any idea how to get rid of scaly skin mite which i think some of my chickens might have, particularly the cockerel. a yellowish layer peels off, not skin, nor hard like a scab. the only treatment i can find is ivermectin drops and i'm not sure if that affects the eggs after a 7 day withdrawal (or how expensive it is, for 20 chickens)???? i don't think it's the depluming mite as the feathers aren't falling out. the chickens seem well, red combs, laying & feeding well and active.
scaly skin mite
- Thread starter vwillo
- Start date
Hi vwillo and welcome to the Forum.
Which areas does this mite affect? Is it all over all of them, or do they cluster round the tail or head, for instance? Are they losing any feathers or pecking each other? Can you see any eggs or only mites?
Is it on their legs, raised or crusty scales maybe? Just not sure exactly what we're talking about, here. i wonder if you actually mean scaley leg mite? There are various cures for this if you are sure its that, without a vets prescription. But if you think whatever it is might be cured by Ivermectin, you would in any case need to take at least one of the chickens to the vet for a diagnosis before he would be able to prescribe it.
A picture would be helpful if possible.
Which areas does this mite affect? Is it all over all of them, or do they cluster round the tail or head, for instance? Are they losing any feathers or pecking each other? Can you see any eggs or only mites?
Is it on their legs, raised or crusty scales maybe? Just not sure exactly what we're talking about, here. i wonder if you actually mean scaley leg mite? There are various cures for this if you are sure its that, without a vets prescription. But if you think whatever it is might be cured by Ivermectin, you would in any case need to take at least one of the chickens to the vet for a diagnosis before he would be able to prescribe it.
A picture would be helpful if possible.
hi, thanks for answering so quickly. i think i've sorted scaly leg mite (in fairly early stages) by spraying all with nettex scaly leg once then dipping legs of clear infections in veg oil most nights for 2 weeks.
area infected is underneath and between thigh area and rear end (not the whole area). my husband has just taken sample of yellowish layer to vet to identify and see if any mites/eggs are visible under microscope but i couldn't see any mites on infected chickens (only a louse on another chicken who's skin was fine and no clumps of eggs on base of her feathers). but often people on poultry sites seem to know more than most vets re poultry! great for the dogs and horses though. my dog vet will happily prescribe for poultry without seeing any chicken. i'll try and get a photo taken later.
area infected is underneath and between thigh area and rear end (not the whole area). my husband has just taken sample of yellowish layer to vet to identify and see if any mites/eggs are visible under microscope but i couldn't see any mites on infected chickens (only a louse on another chicken who's skin was fine and no clumps of eggs on base of her feathers). but often people on poultry sites seem to know more than most vets re poultry! great for the dogs and horses though. my dog vet will happily prescribe for poultry without seeing any chicken. i'll try and get a photo taken later.
You are lucky to have a sensible vet, it will be interesting to hear what he has to say after he's done the tests. Do please keep us informed.
the vet has given me eprinex which will apparently kill any creepy crawlies and probably worms as well (though already flubenveted them in winter) a backyard thread says it doesn't kill lice because they don't suck blood though others on same thread says it does kill them. someone also said a dustbath of woodash will kill all. i do already use de in the coop to keep the redmite away. the vet on duty didn't check with microscope unfortunately. i will take a photo when it stops raining.
I hope the treatment works, sounds as if its a broad spectrum one to hit anything that moves, doesn't it? How have you got to administer it to the chickens?
I have used wood ash as one of the ingredients in the dustbath, but I do find it makes a horrible lot of dusty mess when they get out and shake themselves everywhere and its quite greasy. I wouldn't imagine it's as effective as diatomaceous earth, and its probably best of all, if you have a big problem, is to empty a carton of redmite powder into the dustbath and mix it up with the sand or earth or whatever's in there. I have a feeling that's just d.e. plus some kind of insecticide anyway.
Please let us know how the eprinex works, I hope they'll be OK.
(Edit) I've just found this - could you or birds actually have Northern Fowl Mite? I've never actually seen this, though I know some people in here have had it. It was just the mention of crusty bits on the skin that made me wonder.
See http://www.copsalehall.co.uk/poultry_keepers.htm
Also this from the Poultrykeeper website http://poultrykeeper.com/external-problems/northern-fowl-mite
I have used wood ash as one of the ingredients in the dustbath, but I do find it makes a horrible lot of dusty mess when they get out and shake themselves everywhere and its quite greasy. I wouldn't imagine it's as effective as diatomaceous earth, and its probably best of all, if you have a big problem, is to empty a carton of redmite powder into the dustbath and mix it up with the sand or earth or whatever's in there. I have a feeling that's just d.e. plus some kind of insecticide anyway.
Please let us know how the eprinex works, I hope they'll be OK.
(Edit) I've just found this - could you or birds actually have Northern Fowl Mite? I've never actually seen this, though I know some people in here have had it. It was just the mention of crusty bits on the skin that made me wonder.
See http://www.copsalehall.co.uk/poultry_keepers.htm
Also this from the Poultrykeeper website http://poultrykeeper.com/external-problems/northern-fowl-mite
i don't think so, certainly doesn't look like the picture on northern mite thread of pk. it seems epinex will kill everything, i'm just hesitant to use the chemical unless really necessary as we do after all keep chickens for fresh eggs! they are always going to get a certain amount of lice etc from the crows, magpies & pidgeons which are always around the field. the sun's out i'll go and try for a photo. the dosage given is 3 drops for small and 5 drops for large chickens (on the back of neck), not sure how big or small mine are. presume cream legbars are big and pekin, appenzeller and campine are small?
I would have thought large meant ones like Orps or Brahmas? Maybe 4 drops for CLBs?
yes, 7 day withdrawal. the appenzellers are LF although from one breeder they are smaller LF! but if orps and brahmas are large (even with a high proportion of feathers) then then the cr legbar is medium. maybe the orps and brahmas are extra large and would need more drops. i read somewhere that there's no withdrawal for cattle meat with eprinex and is for ivermectin, so hopefully the 7 days should be plenty.
the photo files have been made smaller now so i'll try again to post later.
the photo files have been made smaller now so i'll try again to post later.
Those are really useful photos but I have no idea what is wrong. Is the Eprinex helping yet? The bright red skin in the last two pics looks very uncomfortable doesn't it? Yet the skin colour is normal on the pic above these two. Is that a white deposit in the cockerels ear lobes and possibly his comb? This looks a bit like favus, which is fungal, similar to what a hen of mine had once. And I don't know what the brown crusts would be.
When you went to the vet, did you take one of the birds for him to examine? If the Eprinex doesn't work, I would want a proper diagnosis, preferably from a poultry vet with a microscope if possible, because unless you are sure exactly what you're dealing with, it would be difficult to know how to manage the flock so it doesn't return.
When you went to the vet, did you take one of the birds for him to examine? If the Eprinex doesn't work, I would want a proper diagnosis, preferably from a poultry vet with a microscope if possible, because unless you are sure exactly what you're dealing with, it would be difficult to know how to manage the flock so it doesn't return.
foxy
Active member
Can you give us a bit of history on these birds?
How long have you had them? What in the last week have they been treated with? How old is the cockerel?
The headshot looks OK, the white lobe is normal.
I suspect this is northern fowl mite that you have caught in the early stages, particularly as the cockerel is most affected. The first signs are slight yellowing scabs, and a "greasy" look to some of the feathers. Northern fowl mite are barely visible, like specks of dust. If you have inherited the cockerel, I wonder if he was previously treated for the problem, this would account for the bare patches and new feather growth, unless young or moulting although an odd time for a cockerel moult.
How long have you had them? What in the last week have they been treated with? How old is the cockerel?
The headshot looks OK, the white lobe is normal.
I suspect this is northern fowl mite that you have caught in the early stages, particularly as the cockerel is most affected. The first signs are slight yellowing scabs, and a "greasy" look to some of the feathers. Northern fowl mite are barely visible, like specks of dust. If you have inherited the cockerel, I wonder if he was previously treated for the problem, this would account for the bare patches and new feather growth, unless young or moulting although an odd time for a cockerel moult.
in answer to marigold, i forgot to say it's a campine cockerel and they have white earlobes. i've just looked up favus and it seems to be mostly around the head which i don't think this is. trouble is the photo's are so clear even my fingernails look suspect!
in answer to foxy, i hatched almost all these birds from eggs in the last couple of years, the last chick i bought 2 yrs ago. they are mostly cream legbar, appenzeller and campine plus a sd welsummer and bantam welsummer, with a couple of (mistake but pretty) crosses. so i presume any mites/lice or whatever will have come from the frequent visitors to their field, pidgeons, crows and magpies. there were also rat burrows nearby, and they certainly visited so i don't leave any food out overnight now. they were sorted about a month ago. the cockerel is 2 yrs..
i recently treated for scaly leg mite, particularly the cockerel by using nettex spray once then dipping legs in veg oil most evenings for a couple of weeks or so. it was during treatment i noticed the bare reddish inner thighs of cockerel and sprayed with cyclo thinking might have been irritated by scaly leg mites or oil and though i could no longer see colour! as feathers were growing thought it ok. i found the skin problem when i was checking the 'another hen' for missing feathers on her back but as they were broken not 'fallen out' i'm sure they were caused by a young cockerel coming of age and a bit keen! (he's now gone to a new home and not causing any problems there). so oily look to feathers could still be residue from dipping legs in oil. i haven't used the eprinex yet but i think i'm about to as it would sort northern mite and lice (which others with good skin have), and any other creepy crawlies i believe.
i recently treated for scaly leg mite, particularly the cockerel by using nettex spray once then dipping legs in veg oil most evenings for a couple of weeks or so. it was during treatment i noticed the bare reddish inner thighs of cockerel and sprayed with cyclo thinking might have been irritated by scaly leg mites or oil and though i could no longer see colour! as feathers were growing thought it ok. i found the skin problem when i was checking the 'another hen' for missing feathers on her back but as they were broken not 'fallen out' i'm sure they were caused by a young cockerel coming of age and a bit keen! (he's now gone to a new home and not causing any problems there). so oily look to feathers could still be residue from dipping legs in oil. i haven't used the eprinex yet but i think i'm about to as it would sort northern mite and lice (which others with good skin have), and any other creepy crawlies i believe.
i've just found a northern mite on an egg, checked under strong magnifier and googled for photo of nf mite. so i'll give eprinex drops tomorrow and should i dust with permethrin too? i think it must be early stages luckily because vent area looks ok. certainly doesn't look like that photo with the pencil end. thanks for your help
foxy
Active member
I have had a few outbreaks over the years, mine have always free-ranged so I guess they are more vulnerable to Northern Fowl mite and other parasites.
I have noticed that it is usually the cockerels that are affected, and not necessarily around the vent area, but on the thighs, and sometimes the back. I have only spotted it once on a hen, and her vent was clear, she just had what looked like a wet spot on her back, on closer exam it was NFM.
As you have identified a suspect mite on an egg, then you can safely assume they have an infestation of some sort and most insecticidal sprays designed for poultry will be effective against them.
I used frontline spray (not licensed for poultry) and sudacrem on the affected area. Completely cleared and skin looked good after one week.
There is info here on NFM on the poultry keeper website as well as other external parasites..
http://poultrykeeper.com/external-problems/northern-fowl-mite
I have noticed that it is usually the cockerels that are affected, and not necessarily around the vent area, but on the thighs, and sometimes the back. I have only spotted it once on a hen, and her vent was clear, she just had what looked like a wet spot on her back, on closer exam it was NFM.
As you have identified a suspect mite on an egg, then you can safely assume they have an infestation of some sort and most insecticidal sprays designed for poultry will be effective against them.
I used frontline spray (not licensed for poultry) and sudacrem on the affected area. Completely cleared and skin looked good after one week.
There is info here on NFM on the poultry keeper website as well as other external parasites..
http://poultrykeeper.com/external-problems/northern-fowl-mite
