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Scaly Leg Mite

Knemidokoptes mutans[3]

The scaly leg mite is a tiny mite that burrows into the skin under the scales of chickens' legs and feet, lifting the scales and leaving the legs thick, crusty and deformed.[1][2]

Group
Arachnid
Order
Sarcoptiformes
Family
Epidermoptidae
Sources
3 cited
Updated
2026-10-17
A hen's legs and feet, where scaly leg mites burrow under the scales
A hen's legs and feet, where scaly leg mites burrow under the scales. (c) Sean Hartnett, some rights reserved (CC BY) — via iNaturalist, CC BY 4.0
On this page
  1. Identification
  2. Where it lives
  3. Biology
  4. Damage and signs
  5. Health risk
  6. Control
  7. Related profiles
  8. Common questions
  9. Sources

How to identify it

  • Look at the legs and feet: the scales lift, and the legs become thick, crusty and deformed.[1][2]
  • The mite spends its entire life on the bird, living in the skin under the leg scales.[2][1]

Where it lives

A parasite of small backyard flocks covered by Kentucky and New Hampshire Extension; chickens kept in wire cages 3 feet or more above the ground rarely get it.[1][2]

Biology and life cycle

It spreads from bird to bird, and birds often pick it up at poultry shows.[1]

Damage and signs

  • Burrowing mites lift the scales and deform the feet, and the swollen, deformed look may remain even after the mites are dead.[1]

Health risk

It lives on birds; neither source reports it infesting people.[1][2]

Control

Prevention

Inspect new birds before adding them to the flock, and treat all birds returning from poultry shows; prevention is easier than treatment.[1]

Traps and physical control

Kentucky Extension suggests dipping the legs in linseed oil or petroleum jelly every seven days for three weeks; never use fuel oil, kerosene, motor oil or other liquid petroleum products on chickens.[1]

Common questions

Why are my chicken's leg scales sticking up?
Raised, crusty scales and thickened legs are the classic sign of scaly leg mites burrowing under the scales.[1][2]
Can I show a chicken with scaly leg mites?
Kentucky Extension advises against it: judges see scaly leg as a sign of poor management, and the mites spread from bird to bird.[1]

Sources

  1. University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension (Animal and Food Sciences), “Common External Parasites of Poultry (ASC-206, J. Jacob and T. Pescatore; revised September 2017).” web.archive.org/web/20241116021457/afs.ca.uky.edu/sites/afs.ca.uky.edu/files/ASC206.pdf (accessed 2026-10-17). Archived copy (Internet Archive, captured 2024-11-16); the original page https://afs.ca.uky.edu/sites/afs.ca.uky.edu/files/ASC206.pdf returns 404 (file removed).
  2. UNH Cooperative Extension, “Common External Parasites of Poultry (Small Flock Poultry Management fact sheet, T. Savage; copy hosted by UConn Department of Animal Science).” animalscience-cahnr.media.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/3396/2022/06/articlesByFaculty_2_1732435862.pdf (accessed 2026-10-17)
  3. iNaturalist, “Knemidokoptes mutans taxon page (order and family).” www.inaturalist.org/taxa/391240 (accessed 2026-10-06)

Updated 2026-10-17. Built from sourced records. Spot an error? Tell us.