[madchickenlady]

Hi, I have just been given a chicken to re-home as she was on her own, I don't know her age but her legs are not right. Both legs look as though the scales have grown outward and are hard and dry, I am guessing that she has had a mite infection at some time. She doesn't seem to be uncomfortable particularly but the damage is quite bad, any ideas if there is anything I can do at this late stage to rectify the damage or at least minimise further problems/discomfort? 

[chrismahon]

You can't rectify the damage as such Madchickenlady, but you can treat the condition which is very painful for them. Our vet prescribed Benzole Benzoate, which is brushed on up the scales -same stuff treats scabies in humans (very cheap as well). We have also used essential oils to soak the feet which drowns the mites after several treatments. It can take years for scales to fall off and grow again. Some do it after a year, our oldest orpington is over 6 and is only now shedding scales.

[Clansman]

I've just treated a couple of birds I picked up recently, you can get prescribed treatments to kill the mite directly but i find the suffocating method works just as well.

I just wash the feet/legs in warm water to remove the dirt,

dip the feet/legs in some cooking oil, turn the bird upside down so the oil runs under the scales, dry the legs off and cover the entire scaled area in vaseline.

The idea is to prevent air getting in and the mites suffocate, the oil will drown/suffocate them and the vaseline seals everything airtight.

I also find this method will soften the scales and the damaged ones then fall off quite quickly.

I usually do this at least once a week, sometimes twice until it starts to clear up.

Don't use paraffin/petrol or other irritants like a lot of places suggest, they do work but they can't be comfortable for the bird.

[HesterF]

I don't know whether I'd actually spot this. I've looked at photos and am still not sure. All chicken legs look scaly to me. How can you tell that they're out of the ordinary scaly?

H

[chrismahon]

The scales start to lift HesterF, so one no-longer overlaps the one underneath. Rather than a smooth line down the foot you can see raised scales. Under the raised scale is a buildup of pale 'muck'. This is mite poo which build up lifting the scales back. At the same time as the scale being torn backwards the mites are feeding on the flesh at the base. The muck can then become fungally infected as well and the whole thing becomes big crustily lumps. In extreme cases the whole lot breaks off in pieces leaving a bare leg. At our last rental I saw a hen left to get so bad even the skin was peeling off the feet leaving bare flesh (fortunately she died soon afterwards)!


It spreads and grows very slowly, so it is fairly simple to resolve. But it is often overlooked when the chickens have dirty feet anyway and can then get out of hand.


As Clansman says, don't use quack remedies for treatment. Someone at a show years ago told me to use WD40, which had his colleagues in fits of laughter. I later hear someone on a forum did try it -the hen screamed in agony and continued screaming until it was all washed away with warm soapy water.

[Clansman]

Here's an idea of what it looks like.

It can get a lot worse that than and spread to the toe scales and right up the leg

[devonlad]

we have one hen who has always been prone to it- never seen a sign of it on any of the others. when we first started we were told to bathe in surgical spirit. didn't do that for long as it didn't seem to make any difference and was clearly painful for the poor old girl. when it flares up we now give a couple of squirts of frontline straight on the legs and after its dried smother in Vaseline. Seems to soothe things  and then she's ok for a while until it comes back again- don't know whether its a breed thing but as she's a bit of a mixed bag don't know for sure what breed she is-
we use frontline under the wings for all mite issues (though nothing seems to work on red mite- except creosoting the house) after a vet suggested it. as its not licensed for use on chickens we don't sell any eggs for a couple of weeks, though its never done us any harm- about the only time i get to eat our eggs is just after we've frontlined.

[Clansman]

Might be that its not actually killing all of the mites when you do it?

I'd keep the treatment going long term till it goes completely

[CarolineR]

Clansman's right - some birds (not all - depends on how good their own immune system is/how bad the infestation is) need really rather long term treatment.
 
If you're struggling with a particular case, and it is an uncomplicated but stubborn condition like scaly leg, you can sometimes also get free veterinary advice through chickenvet.co.uk - as they see many different stubborn cases of scaly leg on a regular basis, they can further advise on which of the different treatments and durations of these treatments that they have had particular success with in really difficult cases.
 
They're on twitter, they have a telephone or email helpline and I think you might even be able to send them photos although you would have to check if that is still available.

[madchickenlady]

Thanks all, it is no doubt it is scaly leg although it is rather worse than the picture kindly posted. Have dipped in oil and vasalined, think it will take some time to rectify if at all, but at least it will save the poor thing from anymore discomfort.

Thank you all 

[Clansman]

It can get pretty horrendous if untreated, it will clear if you keep at it. 

[HesterF]

OMG! Yes, I'd spot that. The poor things. I really hope I don't have to deal with this! Good luck to you all.

[lord flynn]

if you are having problems really getting rid completely (as I did on two birds in my earth pen) then just get some ivermectin spot on. I did all mine twice at 3 weekly intervals plus used benzyl benzoate on their legs and its done the trick although I'll continue with the benzyl regularly (get it from horsey section at Hyperdrug).  Dropped scales can be infectious for up to a month afterwards so its an idea to treat run (if not free range) and housing as well.

[Veronica]

We did have this once when we had chickens. On advice from others I dipped their legs in surgical spirit, let it dry and then put Vaseline on. The hens didn't seem too uncomfortable from the spirit - perhaps it depends how bad a case it is. I didn't spot it straight away but would do now (something to look forward to when we have chickens again!).

It is obviously horrible for them but I found it relatively easy to do this treatment and was very glad that I had put time into getting the hens used to being handled.

I didn't find scaly leg as hard to get rid of as red mite - probably depends how bad it is. I went on treating for some time to make sure it was gone, as has been suggested.

Useful to know about cooking oil as another approach - thanks.