Scaly leg mites?

hen0014

In the Brooder
Jul 2, 2022
9
10
18
Just brought some new chooks and I think one may have mites. Just to be assured thought I would post something on here.
FD065E4D-17AF-4C10-84BC-8B172CB908B8.jpeg
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hen0014

In the Brooder
Jul 2, 2022
9
10
18
I treated mine with a routine 10 minute leg soaking in warm soapy water, then I scrubbed off as much dead skin, & scales as possible on the first go. Sometimes picking is necessary for some of the dead stuff in order to get it off.

Second step was petroleum Jelly to smother the legs. I did this twice a day. Scales that didn't come off the first time, came off easier.

Repeat as often as needed until all, or majority of the dead stuff is removed.
Yep thanks heaps. I put the infected chickens legs in some warm water which helped to soften the dead skin. I picked off quite a large chunk but there didn't seam to be any skin underneath and a small amount of blood came from the area. I stopped after that. Is it normal?
 

MysteryChicken

Chicken Crazy
Premium Feather Member
May 31, 2018
34,267
68,900
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Tawas City, Michigan
Yep thanks heaps. I put the infected chickens legs in some warm water which helped to soften the dead skin. I picked off quite a large chunk but there didn't seam to be any skin underneath and a small amount of blood came from the area. I stopped after that. Is it normal?
Yes, there's gonna be raw spots, my hen had a few under her dead scales. It'll heal, & regrow scales when treatment is complete.
 

MysteryChicken

Chicken Crazy
Premium Feather Member
May 31, 2018
34,267
68,900
1,221
Tawas City, Michigan
Thanks for the reply. Whats the best way to treat?
I treated mine with a routine 10 minute leg soaking in warm soapy water, then I scrubbed off as much dead skin, & scales as possible on the first go. Sometimes picking is necessary for some of the dead stuff in order to get it off.

Second step was petroleum Jelly to smother the legs. I did this twice a day. Scales that didn't come off the first time, came off easier.

Repeat as often as needed until all, or majority of the dead stuff is removed.
 

DarkWater1929

Songster
7 Years
Jan 27, 2015
224
171
181
Redding, California
Hi! I can't speak to "normal," but each time I have treated leg mites, I have ended up with some spots where too much came away, and there was blood. My guess is that it is about as uncomfortable as tearing off too much fingernail. I am sure that it hurts a little, but not enough to reduce the ferocity of your attack on the nasty little vermin! (The mites, not the chickens.) I would put a dab of Neosporin, the kind WITHOUT the pain reliever, which can kill them, as I understand it; just the original kind. After all, no matter how carefully you clean, coops are seldom too sanitary. And, of course, speaking of cleaning coops, the infestation will recur, unless you get rid of the bugs waiting patiently at home for the return of their kind host.

I have a question for the wise ones, on this topic. I have heard much about the efficacy of Vicks, on this, and a number of other conditions. Usually, there is one post among them from someone who opines that camphor, an active ingredient in Vicks, is toxic to chickens. I have not seen anyone back this up with personal experience, however. Is it so? If so, how do you know? I have always heard that avocado was toxic to chickens. Then I came across an article that said that for some reason or other, there was an abundance of unwanted avocado, at one point in history. It was suggested that the excess be fed to chickens. Some knowledgeable person said, "yeah, but you shouldn't feed them JUST avacado!" In repetition, this admonition got changed to "you shouldn't feed them avocado." This, in turn, became, "avocado is poisonous to chickens." Now, please, check with someone who truly knows, before feeding your chickens ANYTHING questionable, including avocado! But, it has me wondering, is there a reason to believe that camphor is truly toxic to chickens, beyond simple repetition, without authority?

Inquiring minds....

Thank you! Hope your bad buggies are soon gone!!!
 

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