Lumps on legs

[Ava]

Hi all - we have just noticed large lumps on the back of our banty cross' legs.

They are hard and scaly. No sign of any other mites, but I'm wondering if this is scaly leg mite and the best way to tackle it?

We have smothered the lumps in vaseline today, but presume there is more to treatment than that?

She is walking very tentatively. She is broody at the moment (again!), so spending a lot of time in the nest box.

Tomorrow, we will completely fumigate the coop and replace all the wood shavings, straw, etc. Anything else we can do?

Any help gratefully received....

Cheers

[ChickyMum]

Can you post some pics of the lump - this will help with figuring out if their is something wrong

[Ava]

Thanks for the repsonse, Chickymum

I have taken a photo, but it isn't very clear - wll try again tomorrow. Not sure how to load an image though - can you explain?

The lumps are about 20mm long x 5mm wide x 10mm high, so quite substantial and are very hard.

[seatil]

Have a look on your search engine of choice for "hen spurs" - is that what you're seeing?

[wolga]

A picture would be great ! It's always hard to tell without seeing
it.

[Kracka]

with pictures - put them on somewhere like photobucket - then get the url for it & then hit the 'Img' button at the top here & put the URL in there
or if you want to pm me, I can get them off you & put them up

[Ava]

Thanks for the assistance with loading a photo Kracka. Hope it loads, as it doesn't look like a normal URL, otherwise I will send it to you per PM

The lumps are rock hard. washing in warm water did nothing. It looks pretty awful, but she has vaseline on her legs and been into the dirt!

The coop has been fumigated, the perch oiled and all bedding etc replaced. There's no sign of anything amiss on the other hens.



Cheers

[Kracka]

I can't see the image

in photobucket - if you tap on the picture - it brings up a list of info on the right hand side - its the 'Direct' one I use, it would look something like this

http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x43 ... 01659a.jpg

[Ava]

I've tried another URL straight from Photobucket site. Hope it works

http://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah8 ... hw7izq.jpg

Regards

[seatil]

She should have scales all the way up her leg (I'm assuming they haven't fallen off after vaseline application), plus the remaining scales on her feet are raised, which points at scaly leg mite. However, looking at the picture I wouldn't rule out the possibility of something else going on as well, especially as you mentioned she's walking tentatively. Is the area especially warm? Does she appear to feel pain there if you prod and poke it?

If you haven't already, I would de-brood her. Vaseline does work on scaly leg mite, but I've never tried it on an advanced case like that one. I've also found Ivermectin to be effective.

I notice that your location is Whangarei. I'm 18 minutes from down town and would be happy to take a look at her if you brought her here. I also have ivermectin on hand. I am not a vet. If you want a vet to look at her, then both Kamo Vet and Mill Road Vet clinic will treat chickens. I'm happy with Kamo Vets - haven't tried Mill Road, but have seen their advertising that they now deal with chickens.

[Kracka]

agree with seatil - and I'd definitely try the ivermectin (I use the one called 'Eprinex', but if you've only got a few birds the smallest bottle you can buy is 250ml for about $70, and you dose at 0.1ml/1 kg of bird, so if you only have a few birds it will take years & years to get through)

so I'd take up seatil's offer - it will knock out all/most the parasites (its possible to get a mite that does that kind of damage around the face too! - and you can't smother that in Vaseline!)

p.s. your URL is working - but if you want the picture in this text, it has to be placed inside the 'Img' tags that the Img button creates

[Marina]

I've never seen anything like this. That lump on the back of the leg - is it firmly attached? The bits of leg that have lost the scales look swollen but not inflamed? Does the other leg have similar lumps? How old is she?

I, too, would take up Seatil's offer to have a look.

My hunch would be that there is something sinister going on. It doesn't look like treated scaly leg mite to me.

[wolga]

That really looks weird ! Somehow all the scales on her leg came off.
Not looking to flash, could be something cancerous.

[tishie11]

Can I see something in the middle of the lump like a piece of metal/wire/staple like a right angle?

[wolga]

Well spotted Tishie !
Now I see it too.