Treating chooks with scaly legs (leg mites)
Treating chooks with scaly legs naturally
Vicki started using CritterKleen® for her Wombats in care and was so impressed with the outcomes that she used it for her other animals as well.
Recently, her chickens developed scaly legs (leg mites). This is her experience using CritterKleen® ‘Natural Skin Repair’ on her flock of chickens.
Vicki’s feedback:
Its use on scaly legs on chickens is the best I have ever seen. Spray on, leave 5-10 minutes and all the scales wipe off and the denuded legs underneath are just brilliant. This should be a staple in every poultry owners medicine chest.
Thank you Vicki for your lovely feedback!
What are the signs of leg mites?
The scales on your chickens legs should be smooth and lie flat. If you notice that the scales on your chickens legs peel up and look dry, crusty and uneven, this could be a sign of scaly legs mites.
What are scaly leg mites?
Scaly leg mites (Knemidocoptes mutans) are microscopic parasites that burrow under the scales on chickens legs and feet where hey dig tunnels, eat the tissue and lay their eggs. The longer the mites reside under the leg scales, the more discomfort and damage they can potentially inflict. If left untreated, the chickens will likely suffer from pain, experience difficulty in walking, it can cause deformities and a decrease in egg production due to poor health.
How to prevent & treat scaly leg mites
Provide your chickens a dust bath filled with sand and CritterKleen® Bedding Powder which contains a mix of Diatomaceous Earth, Flinders Island Kunzea and Apple Pomace Flour. This mix naturally absorbs moisture. The dehydration will inhibit insect migration and bacterial contamination.
Sprinkle some CritterKleen® Bedding Powder on your chooks nests. This will also improve egg hygiene.
If you notice your chickens have scaly legs or leg mites, you can spray their legs with our CritterKleen® ‘Natural Skin Repair’. Even if only one of your chickens shows the signs of scaly legs, it’s best to treat the whole flock as the mites are easily transmitted.
More resources to help you keep your chickens healthy
