Is my pekin bantam male or female?

[Luvachicken]

Gemma, my pekin, has the most feathery feet of my 3 pekins.

When she walks along she sounds like she has trousers on that are too big for her, making her make a shuffling noise and leaving patterns in the dust.

Not only does she have extremely feathery feet she also has extremely feathery legs.

I think right now she has a lot of new feathers coming through on her legs, but the problem I have is that I can't quite tell if it is feathers coming through that makes her legs look a bit odd or if it is something worse.

 

I sprayed her legs with Scaly Leg Mite - Johnson's - and she kind of squeaked, but again I'm not sure if that's because it hurts or if I caught some of the new feathers, and I know feathers coming through are a bit painful.

 

I'm sorry I didn't do photos but might get a chance over the weekend.

 

Any tips ?

Edited April 8, 2014 by Guest

[Valkyrie]

Johnsons scaly is good. I found that Harker Mectin regular doses - drops on the back of the neck - will be absorbed and the little blighters are sorted. It is harder to spot on fluffy feet because of the feathers growing can make it look like they have scaly leg even when they don't! If she squeaked she probably is a bit tender. I have tried the lot here - having a mixed bunch, an orpie was the only sufferer and I used surgical spirit (squeak) followed by lashings of Vaseline. Then I used the Johnsons and the Nettex stuff and still have loads of it here, but the Harkers does all sorts of mites and some internal nasties - and its so much easier to pop a few drops on necks rather than grabbing feet. I do 5 drops for the big girls, 4 for the medium girls and 3 for the pekins as they are more pigeon sized. I still check the feet though because of things like bumblefoot.

[miller30]

Yep I use harkamectin for scaley leg and face leanne

[Guest]

Valkyrie is this Harker stuff prescription from the vet or over the counter stuff. Most of my girls have such filthy leg it is impossible to tell if it is mite or muck.

 

I have tried sprays in the past put holding a chook then spraying their legs is tricky, put it this way my coat and hair no longer has scaly mite.

 

OK I have found it but I am a tad confused, please could you tell me the doseage you use (or pm me if you are not allowed to post it here).

[Beantree]

You would need to wash and dry the feet Luvachicken to check to see if the leg scales are distorted and have a crusty material underneath them. Feathered feet breeds are prone to scaly leg mite. We treat ours with a brushed on solution of Benzol Bezoate as our vet prescribed. Its the same stuff as treats scabies in humans. No egg withdrawal period with this treatment. You can get good results just by soaking their feet in sunflower or olive oil as it suffocates them, but that's not an option with feathered feet.

[Luvachicken]

Thanks Beantree, I will try and give her legs a bath tomorrow and get DD to take some photos for me, then perhaps my Omlet friends will be able to tell me what is going on.

 

If they have scaly legs, do they get other symptoms such as limping or constantly pecking at their legs ?

So far Gemma hasn't done any of those things but I need to know what to look out for.

Also would the others catch it ?

[Valkyrie]

Some birds seem to be immune. My maran has never had any sign of it, although the orpies did have it and one suffered more than another. The buff Sussex had it a little bit recently but she's been treated with the drops and it has been held at bay. Another fabulous tool to use for cleaning feet is an old toothbrush.

[Beantree]

Scaly leg mite is a painful condition Luvachicken. The mites are eating the flesh under the scales. In very advanced cases chickens will limp and peck at their feet to try and relieve the pain. This can dislodge scales and lead to bleeding then others will peck at their feet. Obviously this has a bad ending.

[Luvachicken]

Thanks again Beantree.

Gemma doesn't look to be in any pain at all but I will continue to treat her as though she does have it, until I can post some photos, hopefully in the better weather tomorrow.

 

And Valkyrie, I often save our old toothbrushes and usually use them for cleaning, now I have another use for them

[mimi5]

I use the Nettex" just for scaley leg" and it cured it in mine that had it and I give them all a spray once a month as a preventative measure. They've been clear for over a year now

 

My broodies got it from straw in their nests when they hatched and of course I didn't know what it was until it was obvious (and quite bad by then too ) So the others got it too You're right to be vigilant especially in the feathered feet/leg breeds as it's So difficult to see!

[Luvachicken]

Here are the pictures.

 

 

 

 

I'm sure they were a lot closer up on the camera screen, but I hope they give you an idea.

Actually, when I did look close up on the camera the leg scales did look quite dirty and muddy and this mixed with the feathers would give quite an odd look.

 

Mimi after your suggestion about the spray when we have chatted before, that is what I sprayed her with - much easier with 2 people though. Just have to do it again in a couple of days.

Does it matter that I will be spraying her when I am going to start worming then tomorrow ?

[Luvachicken]

Is this any better ?

DS helped me

 

 

 

 

[Beantree]

The scales look slightly raised but it's certainly not a bad case. Worth treating before it gets worse Luvachicken.

[mimi5]

luvachicken, sorry but it does look like the beginnings of scaley leg. Well done for spotting it.........especially with all those feathers Yes, just use the spray as per instructions and it will clear up treat them all and then just the once a month as a preventative If you have the nettex spray it has 2 settings- spray or squirt, I'd go for squirt.

[Luvachicken]

Thank you both

She is due another squirt tomorrow.

I held her whilst hubby aimed the spray, quite a good job between the two of us.

I will do the other girls tomorrow too.

 

How did she get them ?

They don't free range and they don't have any straw, just aubiose

[Beantree]

Wild birds probably Luvachicken. All sorts of stuff drops out of the sky. Red mite, lice, Northern Fowl Mite, Newcastle disease, Avian Influenza. The only way to protect from them is to keep the birds indoors.

[Luvachicken]

I thought they would be quite safe in their run Beantree

I often check their feathers for beasties but have never found anything so was quite shocked Gemma has something.

 

On the bottle of Nettex spray it does say not to spray it on feathers What happens if it gets on the feathers ?

This is a bit difficult bearing in mind that Gemma's legs are virtually covered in feathers.

We did the best we could and did spray all of them, even though after they pecked at their legs, silly things but at least it was nearly their bedtime.

[mimi5]

You're doing just what I do, try and avoid the feathers.........very tricky I know It's better to stop it spreading and getting a hold, they'll get new feathers moulting time anyway Oh yes, I usually treat before bedtime too

[Luvachicken]

Thanks mimi

I don't like to think of them catching things especially if it hurts them.

I feel quite responsible that I didn't spot it sooner, but wasn't that certain what I was looking for.

Hopefully the Nettex will sort it out.

 

Mimi, how long does it take to start looking better ?

As today is the 10th I will then do it again on 15th, 20th and 25th but how many times to do you think it might take ?

(And then I will do it monthly)

[mimi5]

I can't really remember sorry! I'd stick to the dates you said and then re-access. She will lose the scales at moult time and her feet/ legs may never be quite as smooth as they were before , but that's only aesthetics!!

 

I treated all of mine today and it looked like my Penny has a little touch too I felt bad as I missed a months dose for them as I've been so caught up with the bully Polly saga (still doing battle on that front ) and Willow has been a bit up and down too so back and forth to the vet. Anyway, onwards and upwards!!

 

You could always post some more pics later on

[christyrose12]

One of my orpies has it. Saw another link on another site and people were saying to you WD40 . Think I might try sudocrem as it contains benzyl benzoate which is meant to kill the scaly leg mite or I might have some spray in the shed somewhere.... How often are you meant to use these things as you they dont look any better until they moult? so how do you know if the mite has gone?

[Beantree]

It just doesn't get any worse Christyrose12. Not sure about shedding scales during a moult. I've never noticed that happen. Our Buff Orpington cock is 7 years old now and he is shedding his scales for the first time now. He isn't moulting either.

 

WD40 for treating Scaly Leg Mite was fist suggested to me at a National Show by a breeder. His fellow breeders were in stitches! I know someone who actually tried it. The poor hen screamed in agony and kept screaming until she had washed it all out with warm soapy water. Definitely a remedy to be avoided.

[Luvachicken]

Now I know what to look for, it looks like Queenie might have a little touch of it too.

They all had their second spray today.

I wish I checked their legs sooner.

[The Dogmother]

I've only scanned this thread, but that's not a bad case at all. It's hard to tell on feathered legs/feet, but the telltale sign is a crust under the scales, birds with feathered legs can tend to have raised looking scales anyway.

 

I'd suggest a preventative spot-on programme, and applying the spray in an upwards motion (under the scales) with a a soft toothbrush.

[Luvachicken]

I've only scanned this thread, but that's not a bad case at all. It's hard to tell on feathered legs/feet, but the telltale sign is a crust under the scales, birds with feathered legs can tend to have raised looking scales anyway.

 

I'd suggest a preventative spot-on programme, and applying the spray in an upwards motion (under the scales) with a a soft toothbrush.

 

Thanks Dogmother, that is reassuring to know It is very hard to tell what's what on something so feathery.

Is what I'm using - Nettex Just for Scaly Legs - a preventative spot on programme ? And is that what you mean I should spray in an upwards motion. Or do I need to get something else ?