Scaly Leg

[Gorsty]

Hi folks

I'm not 100% sure but suspect my girls may have Scaly Leg starting - I know what it looks like when it's real bad but not what it looks like in its initial stages! What's the best thing to use? Are any of the branded preps any good or did I read somewhere about coating the legs with vaseline to smother the mites

BTW - remember Joe, my over cocky but handsome cockerel? Am afraid he is nolonger with us! After several weeks of relative calm in the garden- ie me turning a blind eye to being shadowed everywhere I went and not daring to turn my back on him - one sunny day last week - enough was enough - I was fed up with being attacked so Joe ended up being put in a cardboard box and taken 2 mins along the road to Bert (who knows how to dispatch humanely) - Bert had roast chicken for his trouble, Sad I know but Joe had had a good life and now I can enjoy my garden and my girls again!

Anyhow, back to scaly leg .....

Any advicemuch appreciated.

xx

[mr darcy]

Well done for sorting out Joe,it's a tricky decision, he sounds like my Mr Darcy, too many hormones!
for the scaley leg, I only know about vaseline.

[tlck9]

can you post some pics of how it looks when it starts, I have a ex batt with raised scales

[HayleyB]

Yep vaseline smothers and kills the mite..

[yeti]

hi,yes the vasaline works,wash the legs first,then lots of vasaline all over the legs,repeat for a few days then leave for a couple of days,then a couple of times more just to break the cycle..this should clear it up..i personally think its the best way.tlck 9 if the scales a raised i would do the treatment as a precaution anyway,would post some piccys but having trouble with piccys at the mo.try googling scaly leg mite pics...

[MaureenHall]

I've just copied this picture from Omelet (sorry Omelet, but it is relevant). Hope it helps

[Gorsty]

Thanks for the photo - the scales on the backs of their legs are definitely looking old (if you know what I mean) so think I'll be doing the Vaseline treatment soonest. Is Vaseline the same stuff as Petroleum Jelly?

[Hans Mum]

Is Vaseline the same stuff as Petroleum Jelly?

yep.... i just buy own brand stuff

[frias]

Poundland and 99p shop sell really big jars.

[RichmondHens]

Another method which works is dipping the legs in surgical spirit. Hold legs in up to the hock for no less than 3 mins. This suffocates the mite and should not need repeating. Remember though, the scales have to be moulted, like feathers, so the legs will not look normal again until all the new scales have grown.

[Bramble-Poultry]

Frontline - kills them outright in 1 treatment - the spray on version, we use frontline on any bird we get with scaley leg, we use it for mites and lice too!

I also know that the medication you buy in the chemist for scabies works, also you can buy a special scaly leg preperation from poultry suppliers works quite well but takes a few applications.

Petroleum Jelly works great, it does take several applications and doesn't work in bad cases and if you don;t kill them all off then they will keep coming back so if you use this method make sure they are all gone before you cease treatment.

Personally not keen on the surgical spirit method as it can be painful for the bird - however it works!

[Bramble-Poultry]

wot she said!!

[Gorsty]

[QUOTE=Bramble-Poultry;632693]Frontline - kills them outright in 1 treatment - the spray on version, we use frontline on any bird we get with scaley leg, we use it for mites and lice too!

Do you spray actually on the legs or is it one of those things that's systemic - the cat version you put on behind the head so they can't wash it off - not suggesting the clucks would try to wash it off their legs but just wondering

Assume it's ok to carry on eating eggs if you're using frontline?

[RichmondHens]

Bramble and I always go head to head on this subject (although I think we pretty much agree on most things). Whatever you use is up to you. Fipronil (the active ingredient in Frontine) is not a very nice chemical. Yes it does do the job but it is shed into the environment and there have been cases in the US of Fipronil poisoning to humans (headaches, vomiting) caused by over exposure. It is also toxic to several game birds. Personally I would not be happy using it on something I was either going to eat or eat the eggs from.

Whatever method you choose, it is advisable to do all your birds at the same time as it is very contagious and others may be affected but not yet showing symptoms.

[yeti]

helo again,my bantam cock had a severe case of it with huge wart like growths protruding off of his legs which was most definately affecting him day to day,he came to me with this problem,i treated with vasaline and it has totally cleared up in a few weeks with all the lumps coming off and the legs returning slowly to there normal colour, its all down to personnal preferance,i would try the surgical spirit method as mentioned,but i wouldnt be happy using the frontline ,i like my eggs to much!