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Author Topic: Scaly leg mite  (Read 5022 times)

17AndCounting

  • Joined Apr 2013
  • Kent
Scaly leg mite
« on: August 19, 2013, 09:12:39 pm »

We were given a cockeral last night, he's a lovely looking lad BUT I thought his feet were muddy but today in good light I realised he's got quite some case of scaly leg mites! I tried to take a photo but failed. Basically his lower legs are huge, white, crusty...

I've looked in my books and on the web and there seems several ways of dealing with this.

He doesn't like being handled and being new to us he's very wary.

I'm interested to know tried and tested ways of treating him please.

zarzar

  • Joined Jul 2012
  • kent
  • Z.Glenfield :)
Re: Scaly leg mite
« Reply #1 on: August 19, 2013, 10:18:16 pm »
we brought some from auction with it we used a scaly leg spray then covered legs in vasaline to suffercate mites, but the scales stay lifted and look awful untill they next moult.
1 cat,2 thoroughbred horses,1 dog, handfull of bird various types and hoping to get sheep again

devonlad

  • Joined Nov 2012
  • Nr Crediton in Devon
Re: Scaly leg mite
« Reply #2 on: August 20, 2013, 10:13:43 am »
we have a couple of hens who seem particularly vulnerable to it whilst the rest never seem to get it. We smother in vaseline to suffocate the little suckers which seems to ease it for a while. A vet once suggested a couple of squirts of frontline which we did try once- didnt seem to make much difference though

lord flynn

  • Joined Mar 2012
Re: Scaly leg mite
« Reply #3 on: August 20, 2013, 10:42:23 am »
ivermectin spot on and dunk legs in benzyl benzoate/liquid parafin for 30s each weekly for 3 weeks. If its really bad repeat ivermectin in 3 weeks (breaks mites life cycle). also, keep him confined-the mites on dropped scales remain live for a month. have battled with this for the last year in a couple of hybrids, ivermectin (from vet) knocked it on head immediately.
« Last Edit: August 20, 2013, 11:21:46 am by lord flynn »

in the hills

  • Joined Feb 2012
Re: Scaly leg mite
« Reply #4 on: August 20, 2013, 02:12:21 pm »
We used a spray especially for scaley leg but found it had little effect.


We found the following worked really well. Soak legs in warm salty water and brush GENTLY with a soft brush. Then smother legs in vaseline. Repeat for a few days and then continue weekly with vaseline for a while.

roddycm

  • Joined Jul 2013
Re: Scaly leg mite
« Reply #5 on: August 20, 2013, 04:46:19 pm »
I use a mix of turps and linseed oil and spray it on the legs once a week for two or three weeks and have found this to be very effective!

landroverroy

  • Joined Oct 2010
Re: Scaly leg mite
« Reply #6 on: September 09, 2013, 12:59:08 pm »
In my experience, Ivermectin is the best as it will also get rid of  red mite (on the body) and lice externally, and internal worms. Because it's absorbed into the body it has a residual effect so will kill all the red mite present at any one time, but not necessarily the subsequent generations.I usually dilute it about 5x with water and apply with a syringe or dropping pipette. I put some drops around the head and comb, a few on the back, and some on the legs. It soaks in fairly well on the legs where they are most encrusted. 
Another old remedy is to soak the legs for a few minutes in a tin of paraffin or diesel.
Rules are made:
  for the guidance of wise men
  and the obedience of fools.

taz08

  • Joined Oct 2012
Re: Scaly leg mite
« Reply #7 on: September 09, 2013, 01:54:41 pm »
i use  Diatomaceous earth in there sand bath and coop ,,  only got 1 hen here just now with scaly legs
and shes  bought in 2 weeks ago

doganjo

  • Joined Aug 2012
  • Clackmannanshire
  • Qui? Moi?
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Re: Scaly leg mite
« Reply #8 on: September 09, 2013, 01:56:54 pm »
First catch your chicken.........................................

I have just discovered that three of my six hens have it - I've sprayed them with a scaly mite spray but not sure I got the right hens.  Might try again tonight when they come in to bed, and shove each one temporarily out the pophole as I do them.  The others will become progressively less easy to catch i suspect, but at least I'll get them all done, hopefully before my bedtime. :innocent:

Just caught your post re Diatom TAZ08 - might try that too
Always have been, always will be, a WYSIWYG - black is black, white is white - no grey in my life! But I'm mellowing in my old age

17AndCounting

  • Joined Apr 2013
  • Kent
Re: Scaly leg mite
« Reply #9 on: September 09, 2013, 09:41:28 pm »

I went with a bit of a blended approach based on replies here and some other advice.

We soaked his legs in vegetable oil first (and I do mean soaked) and left him a few days.

Then we caught him again (easier said than done!) and applied a very generous and well rubbed in coat of vaseline. A few of the really large scales had already come off as a result of the vegetable oil, when I was rubbing the vaseline in some more came off (and that really turned my stomach).

He looks much better already, the white salty looking deposits have completely gone, and loads of the huge scales have fallen off now so you can see healthy looking legs underneath. He's due another 'treatment' shortly. He's moulting at the moment too so I'm hoping he'll get over it really quickly.

Thanks for all your comments.

in the hills

  • Joined Feb 2012
Re: Scaly leg mite
« Reply #10 on: September 10, 2013, 09:45:18 am »
 :thumbsup:  Great


We were amazed at how quickly they improved with soaking and vaseline.

 

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