[newChickenMummy]

Hi there, one of my girls has flystrike  I noticed she was rather quiet yesterday then today when we came home she didn't run out to see us like she usually does. I noticed she had a very dirty bum considering she was given a bath only last Saturday, then I noticed some blood. I immediately got her in the kitchen sink and we managed to wash the maggots away, there is a bleeding sore patch below her vent where the maggots were eating her away but none in her vent. We dried her and put some cornflour on the sore bit and we've put her in a box in the kitchen overnight. I'm hoping she'll be ok and we caught it in time.

I'm going to give the vets a ring in the morning and see what they advise but just wondered if anyone else has any experience with this?

They were wormed about 3 months ago so I'm going to start them on a course of Flubenvet tomorrow just to be sure.

I'll give her another check over in the morning to make sure there are no more maggots buried inside but if all clear should I keep her indoors again tomorrow or let her free range with the others? I'm worried they will peck her but she doesn't like being in here on her own, she got scared at her reflection in the washing machine and oven door so I've covered them with a teatowel, bless her I sat with her until she went to sleep.

Thanks xxx

[joyfull]

It's best to get her out with the others and if you have any purple spray then use it as this will disguise any redness. Keep a close eye on her rear end though to make sure she stays clean.

[grinling]

Maggots only eat dead flesh.

[newChickenMummy]

Thanks joyfull, not got any purple spray but I'll ring the local poultry suppliers tomorrow and see if they stock it. Is there anything else I should put on it? We don't have any antibacterial creams or anything but I thought it best to keep dry anyway, all I could think to use was cornflour.

Hopefully she'll be ok but I know I shall be worrying all night!

[joyfull]

try your local equestrian stockists for purple spray and wound powder (cornflour does in an emergency but wound powder is better). Keep her clean and check her everyday 

[newChickenMummy]

Maggots only eat dead flesh.

Oh no really? We lost one of our girls a while ago who had a prolapse and was maggot infested but by the time we realised it was too late  

There doesn't seem to be any sign of prolapse on ginger though and the maggots were below the vent. We actually gave all our chickens a bath last Saturday as they were looking mucky and she was absolutely fine then so whatever it is has happened within the last few days.

Think I'll be checking their vents on a daily basis now and bathing once a week at this time of year.

[Prod]

Just picking up on the bathing.....   is that something that you are supposed to do regularly?  I have never bathed mine in the time I have had them (3 mths)  I do put diatom in the soil where they dust bath. But I have noticed one or two, especially the bluebell, look a bit mucky. Their bums are OK though....

[joyfull]

if you notice their rears are looking soiled then yes either bathe or use a damp cloth to loosen the pooh to avoid fly strike.

[newChickenMummy]

Just to give you an update I washed her again this morning and there were no more maggots so we put some purple spray on the sore area and let her back out with the others, she's sitting hunched most of the time but is still scratching around a bit. She's eating and drinking all be it small amounts. Gave her some cat food which she wolfed down.

Have sprinkled Stalofsen F around the run to keep the flies out. Will keep an eye on her and clean her wound daily.

I was going to start them on a course of Flubenvet but not sure if I should wait a couple of days until she's stronger?

Thanks for all your advice

Cheers
Liz

[ANHBUC]

The flubenvet shouldn't make her any worse.  If anything it may help her, if she has a worm infestation and it is not treated it could possibly make her recovery harder.  Good luck with the treatment.   

[sneezer]

Yes been through this its horrid and taught me a lesson on washing them!  After I scooped the maggots out with end of spoon I rinsed with salt solution then put wound powder on, I took her to the vets and they said I had basically done their job for them, I would bathe the area and apply more wound powder and she healed up very quickly.  Good luck with your girl

[kegs]

If you're going to worm them try using the Marriages pellets with Flubenvet in.  I'm doing mine at the moment and there has been a definite decrease in the amount of soft droppings and caecal droppings which will obviously mean less messy bottoms.