Ask the Experts April/ May 2025

April 9, 2025Backyard Poultry ContributorAsk The Expert, Chickens 101

Audra Trosper answers your poultry questions about scaly leg mites and the best heritage breeds for meat.

Scaly Silkie

One of our Silkies has badly scaled feet, so bad one of her toes amputated itself. She can barely walk, the poor girl. What do you think it might be and what’s the best way to treat it?

Backyard Poultry subscriber

It looks like she might have scaly leg mites (Knemidocoptes mutans). You’ll need to treat her for that in addition to any open wounds she may have. Cover her feet and legs in petroleum jelly to smother the mites. You’ll have to repeat this every day until the scaly stuff is gone, and clean tissue has replaced it, so be prepared to clean her feet and legs each day before applying it. You may also need to treat topically with Ivermectin. You’ll need to check with a veterinarian for dosage and when and how to apply and how long egg withdrawal should be.

Audra

Heritage Chicken Breeds

I want to raise meat birds and grow them humanely. What heritage chicken breeds do you like? I want to order a straight run and then use the extra roosters as meat birds.

Bob, Pennsylvania

Australorps are an exceptional breed for laying, and they have a good weight gain, so they’re an excellent dual-purpose bird.
The Sussex is another good one. They were originally bred for the table but lay quite well.
The New Hampshire is also a dual-purpose breed. It’s like a commercial layer, only a heavier bird, so you’ll have better weight gains as you go.
The Rhode Island Red or Dominique breeds gain fairly quickly, but I’d say Australorps probably gain faster or at least they’re a little bigger bird.
Orpingtons are a hefty bird, but you get a lot of feather with them, which is something to consider when it comes time to butcher.
Jersey Giants take a little longer to mature, so you’ll have to feed them out longer to get the size you’re looking for.

Seeing you’re in Pennsylvania, you’ll want to make sure you’re getting a cold-hardy breed such as the Australorp, New Hampshire, or Sussex.

Audra