Treating scaly leg with red-kote

[Kathy Golla]

Scarlet oil is used on horses
too as an antiseptic. Not sure how an antiseptic would affect SLM. Interesting.

 

[Ebony Rose]

Most don't use it preventatively, but I think @roosterhavoc might.

I don't really use it as a preventative for mites, but I do periodically oil their feet and legs more as a skin health and beauty treatment. It's a part of my flock inspection regime and comes with a full foot and leg massage

 

[AmyJane725]

I don't really use it as a preventative for mites, but I do periodically oil their feet and legs more as a skin health and beauty treatment. It's a part of my flock inspection regime and comes with a full foot and leg massage

That's awesome that you pamper them so much. What kind of oil do you use? Do they seem to like it? Do you have any issues with dirt/dust/etc sticking to the oil after it's applied?

 

[Ebony Rose]

I use plain sunflower cooking oil. Brown Sugar (my production red hen) absolutely loves the bottoms of her feet to be massaged, usually has her eyes closed by the end of the rubdown. The rest of my flock currently consists of (I used to have quite a few more) a bantam rooster and three pullets that I bought with him; despite much handling while they were in the brooder, they are wild and will not allow me to touch them. Once they were released from the brooder, **bam** FREEDOM! And away they went! I'm happy they settled somewhere on my side of the fence! They roost high up in my mango tree, so doing this at night isn't an option; I'm NOT climbing a tree! Poor Salt, Pepper, Canela and Nutmeg do without the full, hands-on inspection. I must rely on visually examining them throughout the day, as I'm able.
Sunflower oil is such a thin oil and it's readily absorbed into the skin without much of grease left afterward; probably isn't good at suffocating mites, but it's great for keeping tender tissues tender.

 

[wildwestcoast]

The feed store may be going by a data sheet they get for products? I have yet to find it on the label (can of Red Kote) that says use for SLM, but Dr. Naylor's website does say treats leg mites/SLM. It's scarlet oil based(?) so maybe that's why. I'm not sure I would use it unless I painted everyone's legs. I would love to see photos of what the legs look like after application - how red are they?
https://www.drnaylor.com/product/red-kote/
A non-drying and softening scarlet red oil antiseptic wound dressing
View attachment 1858130

The legs are scarlet. I did all four hens for three nights and the can is now empty. I didnt get pictures..there was red-kote on me..red-kote on my husband..the coop floor..and on four angry hens. Plus it was dark so i had to get them off the roost one by one as otherwise I couldn't catch them. Which meant me crawling into a coop that was not designed with that in mind haha. But by the light if the LED lantern I had it did appear that the one hen who had it the worst was looking better. I think I will switch to a more cost effective option. Like vaseline.

 

[wildwestcoast]

I would not do either....whenever someone talks about 'hosing down the coop' it makes me cringe.
Adding moisture to a coop gives all kinds of organisms a good place to thrive.
It might appear 'dry' but cracks and crevices will hold that moisture for much longer.


Spraying the perch with permethrin probably wouldn't hurt.
SLM can spread, but slowly, dusting the nests with permethrin would be a good idea as I believe that would be the most likely place for SLM to spread.

Good because I didnt end up doing it lol. I did take out the bedding and sprinkle some diatomaceous earth. Not sure how effective that will be as lots of people seem to think it's ineffective. Put in clean shavings so we shall see

 

[Wyorp Rock]

The legs are scarlet. I did all four hens for three nights and the can is now empty. I didnt get pictures..there was red-kote on me..red-kote on my husband..the coop floor..and on four angry hens. Plus it was dark so i had to get them off the roost one by one as otherwise I couldn't catch them. Which meant me crawling into a coop that was not designed with that in mind haha. But by the light if the LED lantern I had it did appear that the one hen who had it the worst was looking better. I think I will switch to a more cost effective option. Like vaseline.

Good because I didnt end up doing it lol. I did take out the bedding and sprinkle some diatomaceous earth. Not sure how effective that will be as lots of people seem to think it's ineffective. Put in clean shavings so we shall see

LOL Did you make your hens mad....
Vaseline works

Imho, it would be better to use a Permethrin spray or dust for the coop - get the nooks/crannies too. While it's important to treat the legs with an oil (your choice), the Permethrin will kill of any that are "traveling". SLM are slow to go from bird to bird, but you may have some in the bedding/nesting boxes/on roosting bars.

I hope they heal quickly and you see a big improvement soon.

 

[wildwestcoast]

LOL Did you make your hens mad....
Vaseline works

Imho, it would be better to use a Permethrin spray or dust for the coop - get the nooks/crannies too. While it's important to treat the legs with an oil (your choice), the Permethrin will kill of any that are "traveling". SLM are slow to go from bird to bird, but you may have some in the bedding/nesting boxes/on roosting bars.

I hope they heal quickly and you see a big improvement soon.

I am going to be picking some up on my next trip to the feed store.