4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[mccroft]

My laying hen, only just laying, has rough legs but I don't think it's scaley leg(or what ever it's called) as the legs are still a pale cream colour all over and don't look infected but are still rough compared to the other hens

.

 

Can I put olive oil on them to soften them or something similar?

[likeastar--x]

what do you mean by 'rough'? if the scales are lifted at all, regardless of whether they are one colour or not, then it could be scaley leg, and you need to treat it. it looks different on different chickens - mine have it currently and there are black patches on their feet, but earlier on they were all one colour. be safe and just treat it anyway by dunking their feet in surgical spirit for 5 minutes, or coating them all over in vaseline or olive oil to suffocate the mites.

[The Dogmother]

It all depends on the age of the chook as older hens will have rougher legs.

 

It is normal for some scales to be raised especially if the hen has had scaley leg mite in the past. The one indication to rely on is whether there is any exude/crusting under the scales - this indicates that the bird has scaley mites.

 

Treatments vary, but the most effective that we have found is to spray the legs with Johnsons mite spray and then treat the bird with Xeno200 spray. Neither of these products are licenced for use on poultry in the UK, but most vets will recommend their use.

 

There is a thread with photos in the FAQ section.

[LJ's Chooks]

Xeno 200 seems to cure everything... fabulous stuff!!!

[The Dogmother]

Mites, lice and worms anyhow