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.
I had a hen hatch her chicks out yesterday and I see she has scaley feet, will it hurt anything to treat her legs with gas and A & D now with such young chicks?
I do not recommend this treatment while she is brooding chicks.
I am going to start treatment tonight after dark since they don’t like to be handled, should I clean the coop today before treatment or tomorrow after first round? Thanks!
Before.
Is the A &D ointment the same as diaper cream? I am in Canada and A&D ointment is not available. I can order from Amazon if I can’t find a similar product here though (but is it the antibiotic ointment that I need or the one listed as original?). Thanks in advance!
You can use plain ol’ petroleum jelly
Just curious as to how you treat or bathe a chicken for the leg mites or needs a butt cleaned if they are not chickens that are handled like pets? Any suggestions?
Go into the coop after dark and take them off the roost to treat.
Would you be able to do the gasoline and A&D on Silkie Chickens. I’m concerned about the fact that they have feathers on their legs
yes