Could scaly leg mites be causing this "infection" at / above rooster's hocks?

[heatherschiefer]

I have a beautiful brahma / rhode island rooster who is about three years old.

We noticed him kicking his right leg out behind him a lot. Almost like he was being irritated by something. I had recently moved him into a new run while I added new hens so I thought maybe he was just being sassy about it. After a week or so he was kicking both. I had a look and decided that maybe he had some leg mites so, I've started the whole soaking, smothering, cleaning bit. I have also considered bumble foot, but hadn't been able to find any specific spot where there might be an infection.

While soaking, though, I noticed something alarming. His hocks are black and scabby (in the joint where it bends) and the flesh above his joint seems inflamed. I've only just started treating this. I don't notice any other injury. His behavior seems normal and he doesn't appear to be losing weight. He also still roosts and hops around the run as always ... just shaking those legs a lot.

What I thought was really strange is that none of the hens seem to have the mites or similar behavior.

So far I've soaked once Sunday and will likely soak again today or tomorrow, maybe spray with iodine and use an antibiotic cream. I plan on treating this until it improves or worsens to the point that we need to let him go, but he just seems so happy otherwise. He even settled into the warm epsom water and seemed to enjoy the process. In the photos there is a dark spot on the pad of one foot. I couldn't get a good enough look, but I think it's just dirt. He didn't seem to love me trying to scrub his feet and I was wrangling him alone.

 

[Swbertrand1]

That looks pretty serious. Gonna tag some folks that should be able to help:

@Wyorp Rock @azygous @Eggcessive @dawg53

 

[topochico225]

Welcome to BYC! Sorry to hear about your roo. I hope some experts can chime in soon with some help!

 

[heatherschiefer]

That looks pretty serious. Gonna tag some folks that should be able to help:

@Wyorp Rock @azygous @Eggcessive @dawg53

Thank you so much! That's what I thought, but Google wasn't much help this time. I look forward to hearing what y'all think.

 

[casportpony]

Great pictures. Yes, mites could cause that. Do you have a bathtub you could let him stand in for an hour? When I get one with scaly mites I fill the tub with warm water, place them in the tub, turn off the lights so they won't jump out, then leave them in there for an hour.

After an hour everything is loosened up enough to clean it all off.

 

[topochico225]

Check out this video:

 

[heatherschiefer]

Great pictures. Yes, mites could cause that. Do you have a bathtub you could let him stand in for an hour? When I get one with scaly mites I fill the tub with warm water, place them in the tub, turn off the lights so they won't jump out, then leave them in there for an hour.

After an hour everything is loosened up enough to clean it all off.

Yes, I could probably do that. Are the scales supposed to come off all together when I take him out and scrub them? I've read that you use a toothbrush or some such thing to scrub the scales after soaking and it sounds like they're supposed to come loose. I just want to know what to expect. LOL.

 

[casportpony]

Yes, I could probably do that. Are the scales supposed to come off all together when I take him out and scrub them? I've read that you use a toothbrush or some such thing to scrub the scales after soaking and it sounds like they're supposed to come loose. I just want to know what to expect. LOL.

I use a toothbrush. You don't want to remove the scales, you want to clean the debris out.

 

[heatherschiefer]

I use a toothbrush. You don't want to remove the scales, you want to clean the debris out.

Got it. Thank you!

 

[heatherschiefer]

Check out this video:

Oh my gosh! So sweet. And very helpful. His aren't coated like that, thank goodness, but it was very educational. Thank you!