Scaly leg mites (Knemidocoptes mutans) are microscopic insects that live underneath the scales on a chicken’s lower legs and feet. They dig tiny tunnels underneath the skin, eat the tissue and deposit crud in their wake. The result is thick, scabby, crusty-looking feet and legs. The longer the mites reside under the chicken’s leg scales, the more discomfort and damage they inflict; an unchecked infestation can result in pain, deformities, lameness and loss of toes. 
Scaly leg mites spread from bird to bird in a flock, therefore when one bird is infected, all should be treated. As always when external parasites are found in a flock, the coop should be thoroughly cleaned.
TREATMENT OPTIONS
OPTION 1: Soak, Oil, Vaseline
1) soak the feet and legs in warm water
2) dry with a towel, gently exfoliating any dead, loose scales.
3) dip feet and legs in oil, (linseed, mineral, olive, vegetable) which suffocates the mites.
4) wipe off linseed oil and slather affected area with petroleum jelly.
The petroleum jelly should be re-applied several times each week until the affected areas return to normal. It may take several months for mild to moderate cases to resolve.
OPTION 2: Sulfur & Vaseline
An alternate treatment option for scaly leg mites is to mix 2 tablespoons of sulfur powder with ½ cup petroleum jelly- applied daily for a minimum of two weeks.
OPTION 3: Ivermectin
In severe cases of scaly leg mite, oral or injectable forms of Ivermectin may be prescribed by a veterinarian. Per Dr. Julie Gauthier, DVM the dosage is 0.2 mg/kg per bird, repeated in ten days. Gail Damerow indicates an oral dosage of Ivermectin of 5-7 drops for bantam birds, 1/4 cc for larger birds in The Chicken Health Handbook. She also states that “since the withdrawal time is not known, Ivermectin should not be used on birds kept for meat or eggs.” I do not recommend this medication for backyard chickens. It is extremely easy to overdose and kill chickens with Ivermectin.
OPTION 4: Gasoline & A&D ointment (Obviously, do not use this method if the skin is cut, cracked, or lacerated.)
This method is recommended by Dr. Michael Darre, PhD, Poultry Extension Specialist for New England at the University of Connecticut. It is effective and works quickly. This is the method I would use on my chickens if necessary.
Day 1: DIP the affected legs in gasoline (the cheap gas, no need for hi-test). Don’t rub on or brush on, DIP the legs in it. Hold the legs out and allow them to dry. Slather legs with A&D ointment. The A&D softens the scales and promotes healing.
The gas gets up underneath the scales and kills the mites AND suffocates the nits. The nits are the biggest problem when trying to treat scaly leg mites with other treatment options. It can take weeks with other methods and often doesn’t kill all the nits, so the problem never goes away.
Day 2: Slather A&D ointment on the legs only- no gasoline on day 2.
Day 3: Repeat the same treatment as Day 1. Gas dip. Dry. A&D. That completes the course of treatment.
Scaly leg mites on a feral rooster in Key West.
Healthy leg scales.
Healthy leg scales and toes.
Kathy Shea Mormino
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Scaly leg mites (Knemidocoptes mutans) are microscopic insects that live underneath the scales on a chicken’s lower legs and feet. They dig tiny tunnels underneath the skin, eat the tissue and deposit crud in their wake. The result is thick, scabby, crusty-looking feet and legs. The longer the mites reside under the chicken’s leg scales, the more discomfort and damage they inflict; an unchecked infestation can result in pain, deformities, lameness and loss of toes.
Scaly leg mites spread from bird to bird in a flock, therefore when one bird is infected, all should be treated. As always when external parasites are found in a flock, the coop should be thoroughly cleaned.
TREATMENT OPTIONS
OPTION 1: Soak, Oil, Vaseline
1) soak the feet and legs in warm water
2) dry with a towel, gently exfoliating any dead, loose scales.
3) dip feet and legs in oil, (linseed, mineral, olive, vegetable) which suffocates the mites.
4) wipe off linseed oil and slather affected area with petroleum jelly.
The petroleum jelly should be re-applied several times each week until the affected areas return to normal. It may take several months for mild to moderate cases to resolve.
OPTION 2: Sulfur & Vaseline
An alternate treatment option for scaly leg mites is to mix 2 tablespoons of sulfur powder with ½ cup petroleum jelly- applied daily for a minimum of two weeks.
OPTION 3: Ivermectin
In severe cases of scaly leg mite, oral or injectable forms of Ivermectin may be prescribed by a veterinarian. Per Dr. Julie Gauthier, DVM the dosage is 0.2 mg/kg per bird, repeated in ten days. Gail Damerow indicates an oral dosage of Ivermectin of 5-7 drops for bantam birds, 1/4 cc for larger birds in The Chicken Health Handbook. She also states that “since the withdrawal time is not known, Ivermectin should not be used on birds kept for meat or eggs.” I do not recommend this medication for backyard chickens. It is extremely easy to overdose and kill chickens with Ivermectin.
OPTION 4: Gasoline & A&D ointment (Obviously, do not use this method if the skin is cut, cracked, or lacerated.)
This method is recommended by Dr. Michael Darre, PhD, Poultry Extension Specialist for New England at the University of Connecticut. It is effective and works quickly. This is the method I would use on my chickens if necessary.
Day 1: DIP the affected legs in gasoline (the cheap gas, no need for hi-test). Don’t rub on or brush on, DIP the legs in it. Hold the legs out and allow them to dry. Slather legs with A&D ointment. The A&D softens the scales and promotes healing.
The gas gets up underneath the scales and kills the mites AND suffocates the nits. The nits are the biggest problem when trying to treat scaly leg mites with other treatment options. It can take weeks with other methods and often doesn’t kill all the nits, so the problem never goes away.
Day 2: Slather A&D ointment on the legs only- no gasoline on day 2.
Day 3: Repeat the same treatment as Day 1. Gas dip. Dry. A&D. That completes the course of treatment.
Scaly leg mites on a feral rooster in Key West.
Healthy leg scales.
Healthy leg scales and toes.
Our chickens are free range too. We just grabbed the scaly leg one at night when he was back in the coop. He wasn’t so defensive then about the treatment either. And he wasn’t mad at us the next day. Probably thought it was all a bad dream. The gasoline treatment worked great.
We adopted a rooster with a bad case of scaly legs. The gas treatment worked like a charm. In a few weeks, you couldn’t tell he ever had a problem. Thanks for posting this!
Catch her at night off the roost. Covering her head will keep her calm and still while you work. I just toss a towel over their heads while I’m working with them. The gasoline WILL be painful to her so make sure you have a good grip on her wings and a partner handy in case she gets loose.
Help, I have 40+ chickens, they are free range during the day and closed in a large coop at night. About 10 of them have scaly mite looking feet….what do I do since they are outside all day, they have several acres that they roam. Is there a dust that will get ride of the mites?
My light brahma roo seems to have these scaly mites. Will baby oil suffocate the mites, or does mineral oil work best? His feet are also red.