Scaly leg mite - liquid paraffin application method!

[CandJ]

One of our Pekin Bantams (Doris - see pic of her in better days - she's the grey one!) is suffering quite badly from horrid scaly leg mite which has made her quite lame. The vet has got her on a course of antibiotics to get rid of the infection and suggested then that liquid paraffin application was a way of helping to kill the mites. We've also added cider vinegar and vet put a droplet of something on her neck.. Not sure what.

What I'm wondering is how to best apply paraffin. She's not the cuddliest bird we have so holding her and dipping legs in not an option. Also, vaseline won;t work either cause of featheriness of legs.

Any suggestions welcomed - also where would I buy liquid paraffin from anyway?????

James

[MaureenHall]

You should be able to get liquid paraffin from the chemist (it's used as a laxative)

Try dipping her legs a little after bedtime when she's sleepy, she should be easier to handle at that time

[Lemon]

Great photo there! Love your fluffballs!!! Is that a Lemon Cuckoo Pekin at the back? Think they're beautiful!!

Hope the scaly leg mite goes away soon! Poor thing!

[dozey1]

I used surgical spirit on betty and it seems to have done the trick...

[RichmondHens]

Yes - Surgical spirit is the method I would go for - and it's less smelly than paraffin. Also, the possible drawback to paraffin is the bird will try and preen the oily feathers and obviously ingest some. I've never had to do it on my birds, but have been told submerging the legs in a jar of surgical spirit for about 3 -4 mins to suffocate the mite is enough.

[Snadger]

I'm glad smeone's mentioned this as a few of my older ex bats have it.

I tried vaseline, cooking oil, cooking oil mixed with ordinary paraffin, dipping, painting, all to no avail.

There's no way I could get them to sit with there legs in any cure for any length of time.

Last time I put the paraffin in a washing up bottle and squirted each one on the legs as they came through the pophole!

Nothing seems to have worked so far though!

I might have a go with squirted surgical spirit next!

[chicken slave]

I used surgical spirit, then a good coat of vaseline (mine don't have fluffy legs) normally while I'm on doing it the boys get a good coat of vaseline on the combs to rid any nasty mites on there.

[Birdie Wife]

I use Frontline spray, which should be available from your vet over the counter. It's a bit trickier with the feathery legged breeds to apply the sticky coating stuff, as the feathers might get in the way of the application. Surgical spirit will kill off the bugs and the vaseline is to soften the crusts and scales to prevent re-infestation. Frontline is excellent though, one application lasts for months and it works on lice too, so I give it a big thumbs up, even though it is on the pricey side (nearly £30 for a 250ml bottle!! but it lasts ages ).

[JILLY JACKSON]

Candj,they are really lovely birds!I have three pekin crosses,i love the dear little things.Where did you get yours?

[Flummery]

I susect the drop of something on the neck given by the vet might be Frontline or equivalent.

[julesapple]

Great stuff, Frontline.

I use Frontline spray, which should be available from your vet over the counter. It's a bit trickier with the feathery legged breeds to apply the sticky coating stuff, as the feathers might get in the way of the application. Surgical spirit will kill off the bugs and the vaseline is to soften the crusts and scales to prevent re-infestation. Frontline is excellent though, one application lasts for months and it works on lice too, so I give it a big thumbs up, even though it is on the pricey side (nearly £30 for a 250ml bottle!! but it lasts ages ).

We bought it in a bottle once, as we had tiny kittens that needed de-fleaing. I've since used it on my youngest when he had head lice caught at school!! It's excellent stuff, and prevents the head lice coming back. If it can be used on a tiny kitten a few days old, then it won't hurt a rufty-tufty child.

Jules

[RichmondHens]

I agree it's excellent for cats and dogs. That's what it's made for. But Frontline is NOT licensed for use in poultry. The chemicals will pass into the hen and therefore the eggs. If only you are eating the eggs/meat then that's your choice. People want to use it because it's an easy option, but then so is DDT!

[Snadger]

I agree it's excellent for cats and dogs. That's what it's made for. But Frontline is NOT licensed for use in poultry. The chemicals will pass into the hen and therefore the eggs. If only you are eating the eggs/meat then that's your choice. People want to use it because it's an easy option, but then so is DDT!

Surely the vet would realise it wasn't licenced though?

[RichmondHens]

Depends if you tell the vet it's for poultry or not. You can order Frontline spray from your vet, but how are they to know what it's being used on?

[chicken slave]

I have found alot of vets are not fully versed on poultry, and treat them as they would your domestic parrot and not livestock. I personally trundle on with the farmyard powders and plenty of garlic powder over there food and it works for me.
I have found sticking to the ways my grandpa used to keep chickens is serving me well, I tell you the amount of knowledge the older generation have tucked away is amazing.