Canary's legs are scaly

[Rob]

I picked up a couple of female canaries last night, and when I got home I noticed one of them had very dry/scaly looking legs. She's from 2015, so I don't know if it's just an age thing or something more serious. Either way, it looks painful and I would like to help her anyway I can. I read that mineral oil, or petroleum jelly can help remove the extra growth on the legs. Is this correct? What's the proper way to do it? The other canary didn't appear to have the same issues, and I also have them quarantined on a separate floor of the house.

[lem2bert]

Rob

My canary had a similar problem. It was kind of scaly on the underside of his foot (noticed him perching on one leg) Once I caught him I trimmed any long nails (while I had him) Then I poured about a cap full of peroxide on the foot , rinsed it in a bowl of water, dried it then put an antibacterial creme on it and gently rubbed it in. He really seemed to enjoy it and just doing that one time his foot looked back to normal in a couple of days. Just a suggestion.

[lem2bert]

Rob

How are your canary's legs doing ?

[Rob]

lem2bert

I applied some peroxide and some pure olive oil, and it seemed to help a bit. I'm not sure the best way to hold her so that I can apply it just to the foot (I don't want to get it on the feathers). Any tips for that? The one foot/toe I was able to get a substantial amount on is the one that seemed to improve.

Edit: I was at a local breeders place yesterday, and I showed him the pictures. He didn't think there was anything to worry about, and said it probably lived with a dirty cage bottom.

[lem2bert]

Rob

Poor girl . How I hold mine is head between index and middle finger that gives me the thumb and fourth finger to manipulate the foot, it is hard to not get it on their feather, you may try vaseline as it is thicker and easier to control. Glad to hear it that the breeder doesn't think there is anything to worry about

[cindy]

Scaly leg.... you need to treat with scatt or ivermectin 1% (ivomec)(one drop to the back of the neck once a week for 3 weeks).... the scales are mite feces, do not use Vaseline it will just trap bacteria and staph against the skin, instead use hibiclens 4% (drug store) (chlorhexidine) and wash the legs in that and warm water to loosen the debris and cleanse the leg... the Hibiclens will help keep the staph and bacteria down... then take some Neosporin ointment (not the white cream) between your forefinger and thumb, rub them together then apply a thin coat on to the leg, do not get it in the feathers.

Vaseline if ingested can cause stomach upset, it does not kill the mites, it is simply softening the feces in order for it to be wiped away..... best to treat that bird and any bird in with it. Scaly mites burrow into the skin and eat tissue and drink blood from their host.

A bird can have scaly mites for 6 months to a yr before you physically see signs of it. Peroxide will dry the skin out.... keep an eye on the face area too bacteria and staph and mites can be transferred to the face when the bird scratches. Keep the perches clean also.