The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1916-10-21
SCALY LEG OR SCABIES
BY q. II. CoDkey.

Soah parasites sometimes cause
a diseased condition of the lego
aud toes in fowls the trouble being
usually referred to as scaly leg
The affection il easily recognized
by the enlarged, roughened OF
erusty appearance of the legs and
feet, and when once discovered
steps should at once be taken to
prevent it's spreading through the
flock.
Scalv leg is present more or less
IN all Hooks, unless special atten.
tiCn has been given to exclude IL.
The mites which cause il pass
from one fowl to another and na
turally both legs of the fowl will
be affected and TO about the same
extent Many farm hocks are
rendered very unsightly because
scaly leg has been allowed TO de.
velop without any effort being
made towards it's control.
SYMPTOMS
In the early stages of the dls
ease the general health of the
fowl does not appear TO be affect
ed bat later there may be consid
cradle irritation, causing the bird
to pick at the affected parts and
to become restless. Az the dis
ease progresses the accumulation
of scale about the hook JOINT may
cause lameness, or the diseased
feet will make 1t difficult for the
bird To move about. While death
actually resulting from the dis
ease occurs only occasionally,
fowls badly affected with scaly
leg are seldom profitable.
1t ia. therefore, "a serious mis-.
take not to give the necessary at.
tention to troubles of this kind
when they frat appear in flock
for they can then be checked with
very little effort. Be on the look
out for any unnatural roughness
of the legs with your birds and
above all don't allow a scaly leg
ged hen to brood chicks If yon
want to keep the disease from
spreading to your young stock.
The parasite, or mite as il Ia
Sometimes called, that causes
scaly ley does not confine it's at
lacks to fowls only, but sometimes
affects turkeys, pheasants, par
tridges, and cage birds. 1t has
not been observed in ducks nor
geese.
The scientific name for this en-
ergetic little worker is SarcOptes
mutuns and he starts operations
by penetrating beneath the epider
mic scales on the front Of the
shank or upper part of the foot.
Borrowing into the flesh results in
irritation causing a small blister
TO appear, this later being ruptur-
ed. The serum which accumulates
iries and forms q minute scale
aud these scales increase in nun.
Der until later large mass Of
his honey -combed formation rails,
'he sea 40 on the BIRDS legs aud
'oes from their normal position
] nder the scales so formed, the
emale mite lays her eggs and
hese hatch IN 10 days if condi
ions are favorable. The young
'fter passing thru several molts
each their sexual maturity and
'elp to increase the deposit. Az
he crust on the fowls leg thick
Ms the outer parts are continuous .
Y being abandoned by the mites
or position nearer the flesh
ghere there Is more moisture. ,
'hus it will be seen that to over I
ONE the trouble penetrating rem.
dies must be used and the false ;
Gales continually removed during /
he treatment. G
TREATMENT :
Individual handling of the birds !
necessary to cure the disease
nd when far advanced some time 8
ill be required regardless of
he method used. Taken right in |
le start one or two applications /
suitable remedy is all that is
eeded and the poultry raiser |
no cares anything for the condi II
on of his flock will not allow the . .
lsease to get beyond the first F
age. Where few cases are no. p
ced in flock it Is a good plan to +
pply remedy to the legs of all :,
le birds as matter of precau. 81
on. There are reliable ready to b,
sc preparations on the market In
lat are easily applied and that =,
i'll be found very effective. Dip s
ing the fowls legs in coal oil 10 u
recommended, bnt the bl
alone must be used with great "a
ire to prevent it's getting onto Of
e feathers above the hook Joint in
r it will burn the skin aud may W
use considerable damage. This 81
ould also be true with any strong W
r.