loumabel Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 Hi, this is my first post as I am new to the forum. Im sorry if this question has been answered before but I couldnt see the answer anywhere so please bear with me. I have only recently got my chickens, 6 Bantams and have just noticed that 2 of them seem to have scaly leg. One quite badly, the other very mildly. My Wyandotte Ethel has it quite badly with the scales really raised and I have searched online for a cure and there seems to be conflicting opinions on treatments. I have washed their legs gently then applied surgical spirit followed by vaseline, the surgical spirit seems to hurt them and I am reluctant to keep doing it if it is harming them in any way. I assume they must have already been infected when I purchased them, the others all seem fine with no problems. I hope you can give me some tips and really don't want a trip to the vets already! Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rossco Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 i used scaly leg spray off ebay did the trick there fine now its made by net tex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 I've used surgical spirit in the past - you dip their legs in for a short while every week for 4-6 weeks. It works, but has been discredited now as yes, it does hurt the poor bird. Vaseline or similar (I have some Camrosa which I bought for something else) does the same thing without the stinging - it suffocates the mites. You need to repeat any treatment several times to get any new hatchings, but you won't see a difference in the condition of the legs until they next moult, so it's easy to think it hasn't worked. There are several branded sprays on the market now and Mr Google will certainly point you at them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loumabel Posted February 22, 2011 Author Share Posted February 22, 2011 Thanks so much for your help. I definitely would have thought she still had the problem if the scales had not improved, so that was fab advice. Am going to google now for scaly leg treatment. Thanks again, don't know how to add a smiley face but would definitely pit one on if I could. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 I used nettex scaly leg https://www.omlet.co.uk/shop/shop.php?cat=Chicken+Keeping&sub=Mites%2C+Lice+and+Scaly+Leg+&product_id=4365&product_name=Nettex+Scaly+Legs+Spray+-+250ml I also have rubbed on vasaline in between treatments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 Sorry to butt in on this thread, but I am currently looking after three hens for a friend who have/have had scaly leg. My friend has already been treating them with scaly leg spray, which I have continued as I am paranoid about my girls catching it (the hens are properly separated, but I'm worried I could transfer it from coop to coop). Question is, how would I know if the infestation has cleared up? Are the mites at all visible to the naked eye? Or do I just keep spraying until they go home again to be on the safe side?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 The mites are tiny and hidden under the scales, so you're not likely to see them. They will need two treatments a week apart with a permethrin based spray to kill off the mites. The scales will remain raised until they eventually moult off but the crust from the mites will gradually drop out form under the scales. Their legs will never look perfect again, but I treat my girls quarterly with a spray as a preventative treatment. Please don't be tempted to pick the scales off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 Gosh I wouldn't dream of pulling the scales off - ouch! I have Johnsons anti mite spray, would that the better to use than the 'Just for Scaly Legs' that was given to me by my friend? I am happy to use this if it would be more effective. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 That's the one I use Lavender. Two blitzes a week apart and try to get it up under the scales. I use it quarterly anyway, as a preventative. *Of course, it's not licensed for use on poultry in the UK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 Brill, thanks Claret. I'll give them a blast with that to be certain that the mites are zapped! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 My vet prescribed Benzyl Benzoate and Vaseline for one of my girls who had scaly leg, and it seemed to do the trick. I read somewhere that Sudocrem works too - presumably because it contains BB, amongst other ingredients. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 Yes, I've heard Sudocrem works well too. So many choices! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevf1 Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 ohh think the wife has sudocrem at home... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenNutter Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 Two of my bantams have had scaly leg, which I treated, but their legs seem to collect crusts and get more lumpy even after repetitive treatment. I tend to soak their legs in warm water to soften them and then dry them off and apply a thick layer of either sudocrem or vaseline, which helps, but the scales never look entirely smooth and flattened again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 The legs will never recover fully, but they ought to look a lot better by the next year. The mites damage the growth bed of the scales (much like our nail beds) so the scales don't seem to grow back properly. If there are still crusts forming under the scales then the mites could still be there. I would use a preventative form your vet and a spray as mentioned previously. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenNutter Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Cheers Claret, I will have another go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
