Scaly leg/tassel foot and scaly face in quail and some thoughts on keeping quail and chickens together

Knemidocoptes mutans a very successful, microscopic burrowing mite, is one I have dealt with before within these pages in its relationship to my hens and cockerels. I also mentioned that it could be a major problem with game birds but at the time I had no photographic evidence to show - well I do now!

A couple of years ago Carol, a friend of mine in Honduras who runs a bird and animal sanctuary in her beautiful back garden, wrote asking me if I had ever come across scaly leg in quail and I wrote back to tell her that I hadn't but knew of it. She told me she had found it in several of the quail that she had recently rescued. I have also had commentators on my quail videos asking about my keeping quail and chickens together, in particular as I have hatched and raised quail many times with a bantam hen. The commentators usually have one particular theme: which is with specific reference to diseases that could be transmitted from one to the other. Well I have to say that I do not ally myself to Pasteur's 'germ theory' but to that of 'terrain' theory. If you are unaware of these two opposing theories then it might be a good idea to look into them as they are exceedingly relevant to all kinds of health issues. In fact it is a misnomer to even say that germ theory belonged to Pasteur as it had been around for some time before, for example, M. A. Plenciz, a Viennese physician, published a germ theory of infectious diseases in 1762. Conversely from Hippocrates 460-370 BC:

“It is more important to know what sort of person has a disease than to know what sort of disease a person has.”

The reason why I am mentioning the above in the same article now is because, having just bought six 'bargain basement ' quail from a friend who has moved and given up raising quail pro tem, I have finally come across scaly leg mite aka tassel foot in them. I believe this happened because these quail were kept with an old hen, whom I had noticed was suffering badly from the parasite. So although I don't believe in disease transmission from hen to quail, I do believe in that of parasites. Even so and if you know of my previous article and my discussion of the link between nutrition and parasitism, then I would add that the general state of the individual quail is what counts. Only one of these quail (pictured above top) has an infestation of Knemidocoptes mutans and she also had, before I cut them, extremely long nails, so I deduce has not been digging around for any extra wild nutrient.

Another of the females has slight scaly face or rather neck and the beginnings of scaly leg and she too did have exceedingly long nails. Thus I would suggest that this adds weight to the contention of there being a nutritional aspect to parasitism, which in turn dove-tails with terrain theory. Thus for any bird to get parasites from another host, it is the state of the bird the 'terrain' that is the important factor.

So just to recap what we are dealing with here, Knemidocoptes mutans, the burrowing mite that causes scaly leg and scaly face, is a short-lived arachnid, belonging to the phylum Arthropoda, which also includes insects and crustaceans. Like its relative the spider, it has eight legs although in contrast to the former, it is viviparous, giving birth to live larvae. The female burrows down into the keratin of the skin and underneath the scales of the bird to give birth, the nymphs also burrow to create pockets in which to shed their skin. As I expressed in my previous article on the subject, I am not totally clear as to whether additional burrows are also due to them gnawing their way through the keratin to consume it. In all I have read, I am not sure if, like their cousins Knemidocoptes pilae, parasites of caged psittacines and in particular budgerigars, the latter exude the enzyme keratinase in order to help them break down and absorb the keratin. This enzyme in itself seems to have irritant properties but once the holes are made, there is a possibility that fluid and cells, combined with powdery debris from the mite causes further problems. Certainly my less infested quail has been scratching her neck and as you can see from the above photo-montage abraded and removed some of her feathers. The major problem with this mite is that although the conditions it causes are slow to develop to infestation proportion, if left to do so, they can become disfiguring, cause lameness or high facial and neck coverage and lead to necrosis. However, there are specific steps, which can be taken to ensure that you never have to deal with these consequences. As always prevention and a holistic approach is my priority.

Observations on possible nutritional deficiencies

My newly-bought quail were previously kept in a small, trodden-earth floored outbuilding with a 'deep litter' covering which could potentially provide invertebrates. The barn's single opening, a part-wired doorway which faced South allowed them direct access to sunlight. There was no evidence when I visited  that they received very much vegetable matter in their diet. However they were on a game-bird feed which would have provided an albeit synthetic vitamin content, which their bodies would then have to convert to the natural form for assimilation.  

Low Vitamin A 

Knemidocoptes mutans (portrait left) feeds on keratin, which is the proteinaceous substance that protects the epithelial cells from stress and damage. Epithelial tissue is the sheet of cells which covers the body's surface or lines the body cavities. When we think of this in relation to birds and mites we may consider the β-keratin found in feathers, beaks, scales, claws and skin. Parasites are opportunists and to multiply to infestation level they need a lot of food! As discussed in relation to my other birds, although in the main when we think of Vitamin A deficiency, we may at first think of its effect on sight, this is but a part of the overall importance of this fat soluble vitamin. Vitamin A deficiency has a leading role in the maintenance of the epithelium and it is here that the symptoms of deficiency are most visible.  Although the exact nature of the problem depends on the locations and types of this tissue i.e. a primary build up of keratin or squama (scale), the resulting condition is the same and can be simply expressed thus:

        excess production of keratin = abundance of mite food

Grass is high in carotenoids, such as beta-carotene, a precursor to Vitamin A

Incidentally à propos of Vitamin A, it is also crucial to quail as their ability to lay is said to be directly linked to the amount of Vitamin A stored in the previous year.

.....low Zinc

Zinc is critical to the transport transportation of Vitamin A from storage in the liver for use in the rest of the body. Ants contain the highest levels of zinc of any other creature and my quail love them! Above my quail devouring an ant nest I'd found in a flower pot, comprising ants and two kinds of eggs, their favourite being those of the flying ants which are much larger than the regular eggs and pink instead of white! My new quail were given an ant nest yesterday and completely and thoroughly consumed it!

...and low Vitamin D₃

The evidence of external mites will be a good indication that the pathway of 7-dehydrocholesterol (the precursor to Vitamin D₃  has been compromised i.e. with the blocking of the preen gland by excess keratin and thus the bird may develop all kinds of conditions symptomatic of D₃ deficiency. One of these conditions is, as you may have guessed, keratosis, the over-production of keratin. With one door way to the sun, it is not always certain that all my purchased quail will have obtained their necessary daily dose of high energy ultraviolet b (UVB).

Our baby quail getting some rays

Rather than repeat everything here and for more in depth information on vitamin and mineral deficiency and the role played by stress in the infestation by Knemidocoptes mutans,  I have put links to my previous articles below.

In Part Two we'll look at the treatment and there will be an accompanying film.

Thanks for dropping by and do feel free to share experiences or ask for further information in the comment section. If you have enjoyed this piece and found it useful think about sharing it with your family and friends, on social media and also maybe about joining this blog and/or subscribing to my Youtube channel or even supporting us on Patreon or

It all helps to keep me going!

Until next time, all the very best from sunny Normandie! Sue

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© 2020 Sue Cross

Illustrations of scaly leg mites with thanks to the Pinterest boards of:
zooclub.ru
University of Edinburgh - StudyBlue 
diendancacanh.com

Scaly Leg and Face Mite Infestations Why They Happen & What To Do Part One

Knemidocoptes mutans is a very successful, microscopic burrowing mite, it is a short-lived arachnid, belonging to the phylum Arthropoda, which also includes insects and crustaceans. Like its relative the spider, it has eight legs although in contrast to the former, it is viviparous, giving birth to live larvae. The major problem with this mite is that in poultry, mainly chickens, game birds and turkeys it causes a condition known as scaly leg and also scaly face. This, although slow to develop, can become disfiguring, cause lameness and lead to necrosis. The mite is slow to develop to infestation proportions but there are specific steps, which can be taken to ensure that you never have to deal with the consequences. As always prevention and a holistic approach is my priority.

Let them eat grass: pasture is high carotenoids, such as beta-carotene, a precursor to Vitamin A

I'd like in this article to look at the correlation between specific deficiency and parasitisation because it is fundamental to everything I believe is wrong with the grain-based diet and the root cause, viz., an unsuitable and insufficient nutrition, of a whole multitude of other conditions and illnesses. Interestingly some meat producers finish pasture-fed animals on a high grain diet so as to drain beta-carotene from the body to transform the typically yellow fat to white!

The Link Between Vitamin A Deficiency and Poultry Parasitisation & Disease

I've mentioned this before in relation to parasites on chickens but here I'm going into much more detail into why it is so important to understand how important Vitamin A is in the diet. Knemidocoptes mutans (portrait left) feeds on keratin, which is the proteinaceous substance that protects the epithelial cells from stress and damage. Epithelial tissue is the sheet of cells which covers the body's surface or lines the body cavities. When we think of this in relation to birds and mites we may consider the β-keratin found in feathers, beaks, scales, claws and skin. Parasites are opportunists and to multiply to infestation level they need a lot of food!

Vitamin A Deficiency and the Over-production of Keratin

Although in the main when we think of Vitamin A deficiency, we may at first think of its effect on sight, with the old adage about carrots and seeing in the dark, it is but a part of the overall importance of this fat soluble vitamin. Vitamin A deficiency has a leading role in the maintenance of the epithelium and it is here that the symptoms of deficiency are most visible.  Although the exact nature of the problem depends on the locations and types of this tissue i.e. a primary build up of keratin or squama (scale), the resulting condition is the same i.e. an excess production of keratin and thus an abundance of mite food. 

Therefore although scaly mite infestation is said to cause other additional problems it is most likely that the Vitamin A deficiency which lies at the root actually engenders them. Take a look at the following symptoms and see what you think:

Vitamin A deficiency symptoms:

• Soft shelled eggs 
• rough scaly skin 
• corns 
• bumblefoot 
• poor feather quality  - allowing for debris build up and thus ease of access to mite food
• weakened embryos and low hatchability
• dry eyes 
• swollen third eyelid 
• swollen face
• off lay - in particular quail whose ability to lay is said to be directly linked to the amount of Vitamin A stored in the previous year

Further complications can include:

• sneezing and swollen sinuses due to the blocking of these cavities with excessive squamous and keratin growth.. leading potentially to
• mucus blockage and thus potential infection, allergy and/or toxicity due to the inability to remove inhaled bacteria, dust and pollutants
• laboured breathing due to similar blockages in the trachea

Added Consideration - The Importance of Zinc

In cases of any immune system problem, zinc has been found to be beneficial in stimulating immune system response. However, zinc also has a role in the transportation of Vitamin A from storage in the liver for use in the rest of the body.

Stress and its Influence on the Proliferation of Scaly Leg Mite

If you really need a reason not to use something toxic or carcinogenic on the bird's feet and legs to get rid of mites, then this would be it; that you want the bird to clean up the mites after you have helped by softening the affected areas. This is one of the reasons why a bird under stress is more likely to become prone to large colonies of mites because preening is one of the first of the quotidian behaviours that ceases when a bird is under stress. This can be due to physical factors, such as a bird is being picked on so feels unsafe or too harassed to stand still and preen, or a mental perception, due to preening often being observed as a social event; a bullied bird may not feel that it is accepted within the group.

Stress changes the body's metabolism as well as having an effect on the adrenal glands. A bird under stress uses up reserves of nutrients such as Vitamin A and zinc. It may also be unable to replenish these due to the physical inability to get to essential nutrients because it is being blocked or chased. Thus, although you may be feeding or providing forage for an adequate diet,  a stressed bird may be unable to obtain it. At the onset of stress nutrients needed for 'flight' are often at optimal levels or above and those needed for 'rest' are dumped from the system. Therefore, a bird may feel agitated and unable to forage. This adds to the limited intake of foodstuffs and thus a stressed bird will be left with the choice, if that is all that is on offer, of dry, low nutrient grain and nothing else. Dry grain also contains what some refer to as anti-nutrients, such as phytic acid, a way in which the grain protects itself from being consumed, phytic acid actually inhibits the uptake of both vitamins and minerals, thus aggravating the deficiency.

Like most animals stress becomes a vicious circle with nutrient deficiency engendering more stress. With mite build-up, sleep deprivation is an added factor, as the parasite can also interrupt sleep through skin irritation and cause the bird to scratch excessively. Lack of sleep can therefore lead on to further stress.

Tell-tale start of scaly leg - slightly raised scales and white powdery debris

 

Skin Irritation, Exudates and Lesions from Mite Activity

Knemidocoptes mutans is a burrowing mite, the female burrows down into the keratin of the skin and underneath the scales of the bird to give birth, the nymphs also burrow to create pockets in which to shed their skin. I am not totally clear on whether additional burrows are also due to them gnawing their way through the keratin to consume it. In all I have read, I am not sure if, like their cousins Knemidocoptes pilae, parasites of caged psittacines and in particular budgerigars, the latter exude the enzyme keratinase in order to help them breakdown and absorb the keratin. This enzyme in itself seems to have irritant properties but once the holes are made, there is a possibility that fluid and cells, combined with powdery debris from the mite causes further problems. It is also important to note that if the bird is not preening, is stressed, deficient in nutrient and thus has low immune system function, then there is a possibility for secondary infection from these wounds. It is true that the more the mite creates these lesions and builds up debris the more likely the bird, if untreated, will lose toenails and sadly even toes to this infestation. 

Feathered Feet and Scaly Face

From my observations there is a direct link between birds with feathered feet and the ability of the mite to transfer to the face. This is because the only cases of scaly face I have experienced have been in Cochins, where I've had scaly leg mites remain untreated. This due to the fact the mites have had so many hiding places in and amongst the feather shafts of the feet. Despite the fact that I was painting the oil mix onto individual toes carefully with a brush. In the past I was loath to dip a Cochin's complete foot and leg into an olive and essential oils mix, as I have done with my other smooth-legged birds (i.e. the one and only Bungle left). Now I use a warm water bath with the essential oil 'swished in'.  I realise that without total submersion of the feet, I was allowing some of the mites to escape, reform and more importantly reproduce. However, not all my Cochins get scaly face. Once again it seems to be only those who exhibit stress behaviours and therefore do not forage as much, both factors due to being serial broodies!

Our sweet and patient Pingu, a serial broody Cochin with a recurrence of scaly face

In the next part I will look at the treatment of scaly leg and scaly face, plus the importance of Vitamin D3 synthesis in its prevention.

If you enjoyed this post and found it useful then think about sharing it using the icons below and please feel free to ask questions, comment or share your own experiences of treating your flock.

Thanks for dropping by and all the best,
Sue

Illustration of scaly leg mites with thanks to the Pinterest boards of diendancacanh.com and zooclub.ru

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© 2016 Sue Cross