How to Treat Scaly Leg Mites

Brahma Chicken5000 said:

i have a rescue Old English Game Bantam x Sebright hen who has a bad case of scaly leg mites. She doesn’t seem to be uncomfortable or in pain but they haven’t cleared up for some time now so I’m going to treat it. My other birds don’t have raised leg scales.
The reason I didn’t treat her initially is because no one is lathering feral or exclusively free range chickens’ legs with Vaseline if they have scaly leg mites.
So what can be done for my chicken?
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roosterhavoc said:

Kerosene and linseed oil. Or if you keep their legs wiped down with Vaseline or baby oil they won’t get them in the first place. Even if she’s free range which she’s not totally because she’s in a pen in the pic you can still catch them at night and wipe their legs down. A little bit of extra work goes a long way to preventing problems.

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HuffleClaw said:

I’ll even try this for my rooster

But why would one treat it if it isn’t there?

Oh and Aryeh, I failed to mention... you might want to treat everyone else in the coop, just in case

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roosterhavoc said:

Kerosene and linseed oil. Or if you keep their legs wiped down with Vaseline or baby oil they won’t get them in the first place. Even if she’s free range which she’s not totally because she’s in a pen in the pic you can still catch them at night and wipe their legs down. A little bit of extra work goes a long way to preventing problems.

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Brahma Chicken5000 said:

I’ll do the Vaseline on the legs bit.
Do you do this for all your birds?

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roosterhavoc said:

Yes. I do it every single time I have a bird in my hands unless I’ve just done it within a few days. It only takes two seconds.
You need to completely cover her legs with Vaseline. Rub your hand upwards and make sure the lifted scales are totally packed full. She should look ridiculous with so much Vaseline on her legs or it isn’t going to work. You’ll also need to do it often.
OR you could dip her legs in kerosene then pack them with Vaseline if you really want the mites gone.

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Brahma Chicken5000 said:

Thank you for the advice havoc I’ll do it as soon as I get home.
Should I wait a few days and then put Vaseline on her legs again until the scales lie flat?

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roosterhavoc said:

No you can apply the Vaseline a little while later once mostly dry. You need to really lather it on. Might have to get more Vaseline at the store. A couple containers. Don’t blame me if you get funny looks!

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