Rooster's Feathered feet look bad!

[andreanar]

And this is repeated daily for a few weeks?

I would do it for 2 weeks, yes. Those mites dig right in under the scales.

 

[khind]

View attachment 1161613
I labeled my thoughts on what's in the picture. A pin feather is a feather with blood supply. They are generally larger stiff feathers. They break sometimes and can bleed like crazy.

Thank you for going through the trouble to comment so thoroughly, by the way!

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

Thank you for going through the trouble to comment so thoroughly, by the way!

You're Welcome. I'm a visual person so it helps me to see what people are talking about.

 

[khind]

Yes, I would treat for scaly leg mites. I wouldn't do the gasoline method, as it might burn like crazy on his red areas. Try the yellow sulpher powder mixed with Vaseline. I would soak his legs first in warm water and rub legs with a toothbrush to loosen and soften up the scales, then dip the feet and legs in oil, then rub the sulpher/Vaseline mixture on.

Well, my rooster is handling the treatments well, behaviorally and in spirit . But I'm thinking of shifting to Ivermectin instead because of his feathers. I'm applying the vaseline/sulfur as thoroughly as I can, but I don't want to hurt his feet any more than they already do by poking in all directions about those feather shafts. My hens don't have feathered feet, so no problem for them. I've read Ivermectin works, but if anyone has a different opinion or other words of wisdom regarding it, I'm all ears! I'd have to see if I can get the medicine from a vet, I guess, so I'll call around this morning.

 

[khind]

Oops, maybe I should have posted about thinking of shifting to Ivermectin in this general message box instead of to 1 person (I'm still getting acquainted with this format).
Also, can anyone suggest good cleaning and good sanitizing concoctions for the coop?? I've been searching online - including in old threads here - but I'm having a hard time finding a straightforward method, or agreement among the info out there! I typically wet and scrub with a vinegar solution, and I've read bleach properties become inert in the presence of organic matter (such as dirt, which IS the floor of their run)... I'm thinking soapy vinegar water to clean, and then maybe following with Elector PSP in the coop to "disinfect" - at least I know that product kills mites and lice in general. Does anyone have other thoughts on this?? Thank you!

 

[andreanar]

You can buy Ivermectin at TSC. You can also switch to soaking legs and feet in warm water, then dipping them in oil. The oil would easily penetrate thru all the feathers. And you can still apply the Sulphur/Vaseline to areas that are smoother.
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2013/03/scaly-leg-mites-in-chickens.html
Here are some other ideas on leg mites

 

[khind]

You can buy Ivermectin at TSC. You can also switch to soaking legs and feet in warm water, then dipping them in oil. The oil would easily penetrate thru all the feathers. And you can still apply the Sulphur/Vaseline to areas that are smoother.
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2013/03/scaly-leg-mites-in-chickens.html
Here are some other ideas on leg mites

I read her articles too I actually am soaking his legs in Epsom salts & then rubbing with a rough towel first; and on day 1, I followed with an oil dip before using a sulfur/vaseline mixture. After that, I skipped the oil dip because it seemed like the vaseline mixture would have a harder time adhering to a slippery surface! Maybe the leg should be dipped in oil to get underneath, and then the outer surface wiped before adding the mixture. I also assumed I should try to get the vaseline/sulfur underneath the scales, and with all his emerging feathers, including some of his irritated feather areas, I'm not confident I'm getting everywhere without irritating him further. I might be making the slathering process harder than it's supposed to be

 

[andreanar]

I would keep up the dipping in oil, because I think that has the most chance of completely coating all the skin. Maybe warm the Vaseline mixture?

 

[khind]

Ok... Amazing what too much multi-tasking can do (NOT!).
The instructions - which I had already read - included wiping off the dipping oil , and then slathering on the vaseline (or vaseline/sulfur, which is what I'm using). So I'll try following the directions this time, and see if that doesn't help. I'm posting this mainly in case anyone else ends up reading this thread for ideas on what works and what doesn't.

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

https://sites.google.com/a/poultrypedia.com/poultrypedia/medicine-chart

This chart gives general dosage and usage of different meds.

For scaly leg mites it says ivermectin can be used but to drip it up the legs or rub it in under the scales. Not sure how practical that is.

I'd probably end up wearing more then the chickens.