[Paddywack]

Hi all,
I bought some white silkies at the weekend and their legs seem to be quite
scabby, I read somewhere about a mite that can cause this, is that correct or am I getting mixed up with cabbage white fly?
If so what do you recommend as a cure (for both chickens and cabbage)

Thanks for any help

[GrannieAnnie]

Hi Paddy, Our chooks have never had it, but its called scaly leg, and I think (someone else will correct me if I'm wrong), but you cover the legs with vseline and it suffocates the mites that cause it, can't remember what else you do, but Aunty knows!!!

And cabbage whites, I get the adults when I can with my badminggton racquet, but brassicas shouldbe covered with a small mesh netting to keep the little sods off your cabbages!!!  If you see any caterpillars or eggs, squash em, or spray with warm soapy water solution.

[Foxy]

Paddy you are quite right -it is a mite called "scaly leg mite" this little wee beastie burrows under the scales of the birds leg therefore lifting them giving that unsightly greyish scabby look.
There are medications available personally I would use Frontline spray available from the vets note: not licensed for chooks, but see this thread for more info:

http://www.chat.allotment-garden.org/viewtopic.php?t=5250

Hope this helps!

[Paddywack]

Thanks for your quick replies,

Frontline it is, looks like good stuff, thanks for that foxy
Can you recommend a place to get it from?

[Bodger]

The scaley leg mite is at work deep under ground so to speak and sprays may not be able to get to where they are needed.

[Aunt Sally]

Cover their legs with Vaseline to suffocate the mites.

[Jellyhead]

I have used Vaseline and eradicated the mites very quickly. I would use Frontline to get rid of lice and mites on the body given that you got them with Scaly leg I would possibly use Frontline anyway as you dont know what other little critters they brought with them:evil: You get Frontline for cats from you vet, 1 drop on the back of the neck - works a treat  

[Paddywack]

Thanks for the advice,

I will do both as you suggest jellyhead, better be safe than sorry where my chucks are concerned.

Aren’t the silkies a strange but beautiful bird, my OH loves’ em, as I say got 4 hens and a cock on Sat morning, 2 hens are pol, 2 are about 12-14 weeks old, by Sat evening 2 eggs and 1 for the last couple of days. The cock is treading the 2 pol so I might try putting them in the incubator to see if he’s got lead in his pencil!!  

Will take some pics for you all today

Thanks again

[agapanthus]

Don't forget to push the vaseline in, in an upward direction underneath the scales....this really gets it in place and suffocates the mites a bit quicker

[Aunt Sally]

And PLEASE DON'T pick any scales off.  Leave them to fall of when the birds moult !!!!!!

[BigPaddy]

You can paint with surgical fluid as well. Seems to be pretty quick results.

[Paddywack]

As promised a couple of pics of my beautiful silkies

the new chucks on the block, 2 hens are around 20 weeks, the other 2 are around 14/16 weeks

My very proud cock ( excuse me)
They are settling in well, i have got 2 of the hens starting to eat out of my hand and as a bonus 8 eggs since Sat.

I'm afraid i'm starting to get very addicted