Re: scaly leg mite, was: Feather Pecking

In article <1h22tvz.t9tpgp1fakmjeN%fowls@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
fowls@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (nuele mersch) wrote:

> OmManiPadmeOmelet <Omelet@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > I DO use pyrethrin sprays for scaly leg mite.
>
>
> Hi Om,
>
> I don't recall whether you had joined the group when we discussed the
> scaly leg mite treatment last time.

Nope.
I just recently re-joined, thanks!
Due to sparrows that hang out in the yard, scaly leg might is a regular
problem and worse with "feather footed" bantams.

The pyrethrin spray treatment directly to the legs has worked very well
and if I do the birds at night, it's no trouble.

>
> I've had brilliant success last year with simple plain cheap vaseline /
> petroleum jelly, applied to the birds' legs in regular five day
> intervals for four or five times. Totally non-toxic to everyone, even to
> the mites.

You have to catch the birds to do that, but it makes sense, thanks!

>
> It doesn't poison them, it smothers the adult mites. The mites that
> hatch from any left over eggs get killed by the next treatment before
> they can lay a significant number of new eggs, and after four or five
> treatments they were gone for good. Not returned since.

You must not have nesting sparrows. <G>

>
> I first treated my own birds who showed just slight signs of infection,
> but then I also tried to help a neighbour's chickens. They were
> suffering really badly, the scales were so thick that the spurs already
> had disappeared inside of them, and some of the toes were already
> missing! The birds were unable to bend the remaining toes, and when they
> tried, bleeding cracks would appear.
>
> With one hen, I tried soaking her feet first and remove the worst of the
> scales, but it took *endless* time and I also felt it hurt her. So I
> decided not to inflict that procedure on the rooster, I just smeared his
> legs deliberately and decided to see what would happen.
>
> After the second treatment, they all looked much better! Hen and rooster
> made about the same progress.
>
> When I reported that here on the group, someone made the same experiment
> with sunflower oil, and said it worked just as well. Only dip the feet
> in and repeat after five days.
>
> I'll try that next time, only there hasn't been a next time so far :-)
> Should be a lot faster than the vaseline treatment, good if you have
> more than just a few birds.
>
> Nuele

Well, the city has restricted me now to only 8 birds, so I don't think
it'll be much work anymore. I used to have about 40 or so...

Thanks for the hint! I will try this next time I treat.
Cedar shavings in the henhouse pretty much keep most ectoparasites at
bay, and ventilation is good enough, I can use them mixed with pine
shavings.

>
> PS.
> trouble with pyrethrine and mites is that they may eventually get
> resistant. We used to use it against varroa mites on bees for a number
> of years, but it doesn't work at all anymore. Pity, it was very
> convenient. Soaking the bees in sunflower oil will not have the desired
> effect, I fear ;-)
--
Om.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-bitch." -Jack Nicholson
.

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