Scaly leg mite

[Jacqui S]

Hope someone can help please!
I noticed just now that at least two of my chickens seem to have a pretty bad case of scaly leg mite, I feel terrible for not having noticed earlier. Will check their legs regularly in future.
Anyway just wondering what treatment do other people use? I would prefer to avoid insecticides and have heard of being able to use vaseline. Is this effective by itself? Any other suggestions?
Thanks,
Jacqui

[bonniethomas06]

Hi Jacqui,

You can buy 'proper' medicated spray at pet shops to treat it, but I find olive oil or vaseline works just as well.

Sorry for the link but I wrote a blog post about this with more details:

http://theparttimesmallholder.blogspot. ... chive.html

Hope your hens get better soon.

[bonniethomas06]

Also meant to say that you need to give your henhouse a good scrub too, particularly the little crevases at the ends of the roosting bars, as the beasties apparently hop off the hen foot and into the litter, waiting for another chook to come along that they can feast on. Ewww!

[Milims]

We were advised by the vet to bathe their legs with surgical spirit - it works a treat

[oldjerry]

For what it's worth,I'd suggest both the above,surgical spirit,then olive oil to moisturise.

[Millymollymandy]

Is it diluted or neat s. spirit and what percentage s s to start with?