Sorry that I´ve to disagree. This are certain impacts of the papilloma virus and not caused by mites. Much more severe.Hi Brian
Unfortunately this is a condition known as scaly leg [...]
Much more severe.
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Hi Brian
Unfortunately this is a condition known as scaly leg, or bumblefoot. You can read more about these on the BTO website.
Whatever it is, it doesn't look good. I found this other pictures that was taken at the same time. He appears to be standing on one leg, so perhaps the leg was painful?
I am very loath to take the feeder down, surely it could be disinfected instead. I don't know how long this bird has been coming, or whether it was his first visit.
To be blunt, your feeder is killing them with kindness.
As Valery says, as humans, if ill we often stay in, which is true but unfortunately a completely irrelevant point to make with regards to birds.
If it makes you feel happier, Brain, then taking the feeders down was the right thing to do, but I can't see it making any positive difference in this case. Unless you can get all others in your local area to remove their feeders, as this bird is probably visiting their feeders as well. And if it wasn't before, it will be now your feeders have gone.
As Joe has said; there's no evidence that removing the feeders will affect the spread of this virus. Although there is a logical way of affecting the spread, and that's to remove this bird from the population. Either treat or euthanase it; suffering ended, virus spread limited.
That would be easier said than done of course, and removing the feeders makes us feel we are helping, whether we are or not is another matter.
(Although removing feeders might help for things like Salmonella, IMO, it still needs local cooperation to have any chance of doing any good, as your feeders might not be the source.)
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Scaly leg and bumblefoot and both two separate and different diseases, and the chaffinch has neither.
Scaly leg is a mite infestation only, bumblefoot is a bacterial infection of the ball of the foot, and the chaffinch has fringillae papillomavirus - a virus infection (that sometimes comes with a mite infestation).
Crowds are that best place to get a disease. Thus if there is a disease for birds, don't create crowds of birds. This is not science, this is common sense.