Scaly Leg

[RichmondHens]

One of my lads has 'chunkier' scales on his legs than any of the other birds. It's not got any worse over the past year- nor have any of the others got similar sorts of scales. Do they sometimes just have bigger- and slightly raised - scales naturally- or has this lad got mites???
I just presumed it was 'normal' for him as it's no worse, and it's not spread to the rest of the flock in all that time ( despite close contact via 'piggybacks'
Bit confused now!

It does not sound like typical scaly leg Nicos, and if all the others are clean legged then seems unlikely to be leg mite. As Yeti describes, with scaly leg you get a sort of crustiness (which is mite droppings) pushing the scales up and out. The three rescue cocks I acquired at Christmas had scaly leg, but have all improved greatly after having just one 3 minute dip in surgical spirit.

[Gorsty]

Hi folks

Have just had a phone call from my vets - they won't supply me with Frontline spray because (a) its not registered for poultry and (b) because its on prescription they need to see the hens!! I've been with this practice for more than 30 yrs but they don't treat me any different than Fred Bloggs and do everything by the book!! Most annoying sometimes but .....

Anyhow, THANK YOU very much SUSYQ I will order some up from your supplier AND save myself £10 as well.

Next question I assume a quick spray of each leg will suffice - don't want to over do things!???!!

Many thanks

[frias]

My vet didn't need to see the hens before prescribing. Mind you he has seen most of them at some time or other anyway. Wish I had known I could get it cheaper on line though. All the websites I tried, required a script. Well done SuzyQ.
Gorsty, I just did a squirt on each leg.

[Bramble-Poultry]

just a squirt or two (depends on how far away you hold the spray and how bad the scaly is) and rub it in with your fingers. Use surgical gloves if you feel like it, personally, i know afer treating 100+ birds i am not likely to get mite myself!

after a few days, catch up the bird agaion and gently rub off any crusts that remain. if the crusts are stubborn, you can soften them with a few drops of olive oil.

[Nicos]

Right- I've Vaselined Paxo's legs..he sort of tap danced along the perch when I applied it- as if it were sensative - touched Au Vins- and he just picked up his feet- makes me think that Paxo has leg mites to react like that- but how weird theat he's the only one!!!...and after nearly a year!!!

Thanks for focusing my attention to him- can't be nice having itchy feet!!!

[yeti]

had mine about a year, and it was just my cock bobby who had it realy,but i think he came to me with them!!

[Nicos]

OK- well I'm vaselining every night- and the scales are starting to fall off!
...I'm sure this is Ok from what you've all been saying- so it clearly was leg mites!
Must have picked it up from wild birds in the field????

Looks very pink and sore undernearh- but no raw flesh.

Betty has been very interested in me putting blobs on his legs and trying to rub it in. Blooming heck- she's fast...she managed to peck off a huge blob just as I was applying it...I nearly had a heart attack- thinking she'd suffocate with a huge plug of vaseline gumming up her beak!!
Quick 'Emergency Ward 10' ideas wizzed through my mind ...but she was fine. That'd be another thing to have 'chalked up'' wouldn't it Di ?????

[mr darcy]

death by vaseline???hihi!!
this post made me go and inspect everyone's legs and gave me the urge to give them all a deep moisturising treatment!!

[Nicos]

I'd Googled it a while ago- and hadn't made the connection until I saw Maureen's piccie.
I think I just thought it was a 'male' thing having chunkier leg scales.

..just goes to show- and thanks for all the advice peeps!

[Llamas]

Right- I've Vaselined Paxo's legs..he sort of tap danced along the perch when I applied it- as if it were sensative - touched Au Vins- and he just picked up his feet- makes me think that Paxo has leg mites to react like ....

lol, Brilliant names!

[Glutton4...]

...Benzyl benzoate is another effective remedy (your chemist might still stock it - but be prepared for some funny looks if you ask for it - it's sold as a treatment for an embarrassing human condition )

Just tell the counter staff that your Horse has Sweet-Itch, then you don't have to be embarrassed!

[mandyballantyne]

I have been trying to decide which route to go down and was concerned about using fipronil so had a look on the compendium. I am seeing the manufacturer at congress tomorrow so I will ask them there thoughts!

Below is from the compendium

Further information
Fipronil is a member of the phenylpyrazole family of broad spectrum, non-systemic, insecticides/acaricides, which acts by blocking the GABA receptor to kill the target parasite on contact. It exhibits insecticidal and acaricidal activity against fleas (Ctenocephalides spp.), ticks (Rhipicephalus spp. and Ixodes spp.) and lice (Trichodectes spp. and Felicola spp.) in the dog and cat. FRONTLINE Spray may aid in the control of a number of ectoparasite species in dogs and cats including Neotrombicula autumnalis, Sarcoptes spp. and Cheyletiella spp. Treatment with FRONTLINE Spay has been shown to result in a significant reduction in the incidence of flea allergy dermatitis in both dogs and cats. When used as part of a strategy for the treatment of flea allergy dermatitis, monthly applications to the allergic patient and to other cats and dogs in the household are recommended. FRONTLINE Spray is active for up to 3 months against fleas in dogs and up to 2 months in cats depending on the environmental challenge. It is effective against tick infestations for up one month in dogs and cats, depending on the level of environmental challenge.
Puppies and kittens from 2 days of age may be safely treated.
FRONTLINE Spray does not prevent all ticks attaching to the animal, but ticks will be killed within the first 24 - 48 hours. Once dead, ticks will often drop off the animal, but any remaining ticks may easily be removed by a gentle pull, preferably using tweezers. There may be an attachment of single ticks. For this reason a transmission of infectious diseases cannot be completely excluded if conditions are unfavourable.
Treatment of bedding, carpets and soft furnishings with a suitable insecticide will aid reduction in environmental challenge and maximise the duration of protection against re-infestation provided by the product. FRONTLINE Spray is not suitable for direct treatment of the environment.
Bathing or shampooing up to four times in two months has been shown to have no significant effect on the residual efficacy of FRONTLINE Spray. Monthly treatment is recommended when more frequent shampooing is carried out. (Refer also to the 'Warnings' section of this data sheet).
In the absence of specific tolerance and efficacy data, FRONTLINE Spray is not recommended for the treatment of species other than cats and dogs.

[Hilary B]

I have been trying to decide which route to go down and was concerned about using fipronil so had a look on the compendium.
In the absence of specific tolerance and efficacy data, FRONTLINE Spray is not recommended for the treatment of species other than cats and dogs.

That last bit simply means they haven't bothered to test its safety for other species. When we kept goats, there were very few products that the vet would supply 'for' the goats, for exactly that reason. The experienced goat keepers in the area knew which of the sheep products worked on their own animals!

[Hilary B]

I have been trying to decide which route to go down and was concerned about using fipronil so had a look on the compendium.
In the absence of specific tolerance and efficacy data, FRONTLINE Spray is not recommended for the treatment of species other than cats and dogs.

That last bit simply means they haven't bothered to test its safety for other species. When we kept goats, there were very few products that the vet would supply 'for' the goats, for exactly that reason. The experienced goat keepers in the area knew which of the sheep products worked on their own animals!

[Feather]

Another method which works is dipping the legs in surgical spirit..

PLEASE don't use surgical sprit, this is an old-fashioned remedy which is very painful to the bird.
You can buy Scaley Leg Spray which is very effective both for prevention and treatment,and in any case you should use this routinely every 3-4 months on all your birds to prevent outbreaks. As you already have an outbreak, whether you decide to go for Vaseline or Scaley Leg spray it would be best to do the whole flock as the mites will certainly have transferred to other birds when they roost together and are not apparent in the early stages. By the time it becomes obvious, the infestation will be well under way and causing affected birds a lot of discomfort or pain. You'll need a second application in a couple of weeks to make sure you've cleared it up, and then repeat the treatment regularly.