Scaly Face & Leg Mites in Pet Birds 2025 🐦 | Vet Guide by Dr Duncan Houston BVSc

Knemidocoptiasis, caused by burrowing mites (genus Knemidokoptes), shows up as crusty, honeycomb‑like scales on the beak, cere, eyelids, and legs. These mites burrow into keratin and can deform beaks or legs, impairing feeding and mobility. Early detection and proper veterinary treatment are essential to prevent long‑term damage or death. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

1. 🚩 Common Signs

• Thickened, crusty scales on the cere, beak, eyelids (scaly face) or legs (scaly leg) :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
• Beak deformity or overgrowth—birds may struggle to eat
• Raised, rough scales (“tassel foot”)—sometimes claws lost :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
• Not itchy—mites burrow, causing damage slowly, so birds rarely scratch :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
• Severe cases lead to starvation, mobility issues, or starvation :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}

2. 🔬 Diagnosing the Mite

• Vet takes skin scrapings from crusted areas (cere, beak, legs)
• Microscopic exam confirms burrowing mite presence :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}

3. 💊 Veterinary Treatment Options

Effective treatment must be guided by an avian vet:

• Ivermectin: oral, injectable or topical at ~0.2 mg/kg every 1–2 weeks for 3–4 doses; often yields visible improvement within days :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
• Moxidectin (e.g., Scatt®): pour-on or injectable application every 2 weeks; safe for repeated use :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}
• Avimec® topical drops: one drop per 30–100 g bird on unfeathered skin weekly for 3–6 weeks :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}
• In severe overgrowth, surgical debridement by laser may be needed :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}

4. 🏠 Flock Treatment & Environment

• All cage‑mates should be treated simultaneously—even if asymptomatic :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}
• Clean/disinfect cages, perches, toys and replace wooden items if heavily infested :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}
• Petroleum jelly, paraffin oil, or coconut oil on feet/beak may ease symptoms but don’t remove mites :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}
• Wild birds can be vectors—quarantine new birds and test for mites :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}

5. ⏱️ Recovery & Follow-up

• Treatment may be needed for 4–6 weeks until scaling resolves :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}
• Recheck vet 2 weeks after last dose to ensure mite clearance
• Severe deformities may persist; early treatment prevents permanent damage

6. ☀️ Prevention Strategies

• Quarantine all new birds for 4–6 weeks
• Inspect cere, beak, and legs monthly for early scaling
• Maintain clean cages and avoid overcrowding
• Keep wild birds away from aviaries to reduce transmission :contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18}

7. 🧡 Final Thoughts

Scaly face and leg mites are painful but treatable. With early diagnosis, veterinary‑approved parasitic treatment, and flock‑wide care, most birds recover well. Left untreated, this condition can lead to serious damage or death. Your vigilance and timely action can make all the difference. 🐥✨

— Dr Duncan Houston BVSc

👉 For topical dosing charts, treatment logs, or flock screening templates, visit AskAVet.com or download the Ask A Vet app. Our avian experts are ready to guide your bird to health! 📱🐦