Canary with scales on legs

[cindy]

possibly leg mites....

http://www.avianweb.com/scaly.html

http://www.birds-online.de/gesundheit/g ... ben_en.htm

are these birds in with your flock or in a separate room quarantined?

[CandoAviary]

They probably just have dry skin... many times when canaries are not offered a bath regully they get really scaley legs, also a vitamin defficiency could cause this.
I massage plain mineral oil on the legs, taking care not to get it on the feathers.

[cindy]

can you post a picture...

[cindy]

hope so.

[cindy]

Rancel...this describes the issue and the solutions

http://www.ladygouldianfinch.com/features_scalyface.php

[cindy]

Rancel, make sure you wash well before going to your other birds. If you have mineral oil like Candace suggested apply a thin coat to the legs and feet it will help sooth the legs and smoother the mites. Clean all perches, and the cage well once you start treatment. Until this is completely clear I would keep them from your other birds. Feed and clean the canaries after you do your other birds.

[cindy]

do not use those, the fumes will eventually create issue with your birds health...it can be toxic. It will not work for what is wrong anyway.

read this

http://www.finchinfo.com/general/toxic_ ... angers.php

toxic...contains Para-chlormetazymol (an ingredient in mite protectors)

It is best to treat as you mentioned earlier...don't use that cage "preventative"....it is like you sitting next to a box of mothballs...except your little finch has to inhale once and exhale twice to do 1 breath cycle.

[CandoAviary]

Could be calcification deposits.
http://www.canaryadvisor.com/scaly-feet.html

[Diamond Sparrow]

use dettol and vasoline 50/50 mix rub it into the legs daily

[cindy]

Do not use vasiline, it has petroleum in it. If you do not have mineral oil, olive oil works well just do not get it in the feathers and use a light coat.

Petroleum (if ingested or inhaled into the lungs) can not be cleared readily by the body.If it gets into the lungs it will sit there, the lungs can't clear it. It can cause other health issues, such as plugged feather follicals . It can cause very loose stools if ingested. Long term use can prove toxic.

There are other safer products to use. It was among a list of items NOT TO USE...told to me by my avian vet when I brought my Gray in.

[cindy]

http://www.aspca.org/Pet-care/ask-the-e ... jelly.aspx

"Petroleum jelly products contain petrolatum, which can cause gastrointestinal upset and have a laxative effect. And while not as volatile as other hydrocarbons, petroleum jelly may pose a slight risk for aspiration pneumonia if it gets inhaled into the lungs (via initial ingestion or vomiting). Based on this information, we advise keeping petrolatum products out of the reach of your pets."

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency ... 002525.htm
this is inregards to humans.

[Diamond Sparrow]

The mild use of vasoline/ dettol was a recommendation in one of Russell Kingstons books.

[cindy]

It is not recommend...due to internal and extrenal reasons. Mineral oil will do just as well as will olive oil without causing the possible problems vaseline will. It is not recommended even to use on dogs due to issues with ingesting it.

[Diamond Sparrow]

We treat mite problems with Ivamectin also

[cindy]

We use to be able to get that at feed stores but there was talk about banning it from being sold on the shelves but I believe ladygouldian.com carries it. Not sure the ban went through or if it was just talk.

Rancel, if you don't have any treatment for this you can get Ivamectin locally. You live in my area check Tractor Supply Plus. They carry (carried? call first) it, you put a drop to the back of the neck and then repeat in three weeks. A friend bought a shipment of canaries and I went to see them and noticed some had tassle feet (mites). He used the Ivamectin and put mineral oil or olive oil on their legs to smoother the mites and moisturize the legs...took some doing but it cleared up. The birds were kept in quarantine until clear of it. I would wait a bit to after treating to let them breed, give them a chance to regain strength after treating.