Scaly leg mites, limping- what is normal?

[rugbyrebel]

One of my young cockerels started limping the other day very suddenly.... I'm guessing he has sprained his leg as I don't see any obvious injuries or abscesses. He can put full weight standing but has a difficult time walking and is sitting a lot (still eating, not lethargic).

Anyway, as I was paying close attention to his legs I wondered if they were too scaly and dry - indicating leg mites? From the pictures I've seen online, leg mites are quite obvious and can be severe. I hadn't paid too much attention to how scaly the legs are normally so I can't compare.

So my questions are: are leg mites slow to create those large puffed up scales? (Could my chicks have leg mites?) Can the early infestation of leg mites cause limping? Any suggestions on how to help a limping chicken?

I've attached photos of my chicks legs.

I'm slightly obsessing because my male chicks are going to a new home and I want to make sure they are healthy.

Thank you

 

[Beekissed]

No, it isn't likely that he has scale mites or that they will cause him to limp in early stages. He might have sprained his leg and that is possible. The foot and scales look healthy but you can always oil them up with some castor oil if you think they look too dry and it will also be a preventative for the scale mites.

Castor oil can be found at any pharmacy and even at the Dollar General store and is usually taken as a laxative but it has insecticidal properties, as well as has nutrients and emollients that are good for scales, skin, hair and feathers. It is also a powerful antibiotic and antifungal, as well as a antihelmintic. In other words it's good to have in your chicken medicine chest!

 

[dawg53]

I agree with Beekissed, he probably jumped down from a high roost or other high location which caused a sprained ligament or tendon. I looked at the pics and he doesnt have scaly leg mites. I recommend that you confine his movement by putting him in a cage and let the leg heal. You dont want him up and running around which could cause worse injury, he needs rest and relaxation in order for the leg to heal. Make sure he's got food and water while caged. You can add a few crushed vitamin B complex tablets to his feed, it may help speed up healing. After 5 days, release him from his cage and see if he walks normal. If not, recage him and continue with the vitamin B complex treatment for another 5 days. Then release him again and see if he walks normal. If not, recage him again but stop the vitamin treatment.
Leg injuries take time to heal, sometimes a few days, several weeks, months, or never. If he doesnt heal after a month, it becomes a quality of life issue.

 

[Beekissed]

Hey, DAWG!!!!

 

[rugbyrebel]

THANK YOU SO MUCH for your replies. This is my first time keeping chickens and its so hard to know what is going on by reading online and in books with nothing to compare to. It's nice to confer with real people.

The extra stress is that I found a home for my boys where they get to live and I've become paranoid that will fall ill and be unwanted.

I will be stocking up my chicken medicine cabinet this weekend! And will restrict the movement of my limping guy.