Chicken ate decayed meat

[Twitchy Bee]

My neighbor traps fox and throws their carcasses outside of his shed to rot. The bodies have been rotting for at least 1mth and a half. My chickens went over there and may have eaten some. My one hen was hiding in the corner of the yard trembling a bit, smells like fox, her eyes were drooping closed, and water came out her tush. She wouldn't come when called and didn't run for treats. What should I do?

 

[Eggcessive]

I would take her to a vet if possible. Rotten meat can give her food poisoning, but botulism is a danger if the flesh was without air ( as in buried or under water.) She could benefit from an Epsom salts or molasses flush—you can get directions online. Giving her water right away can help.

 

[AllenK RGV]

My neighbor traps fox and throws their carcasses outside of his shed to rot. The bodies have been rotting for at least 1mth and a half. My chickens went over there and may have eaten some. My one hen was hiding in the corner of the yard trembling a bit, smells like fox, her eyes were drooping closed, and water came out her tush. She wouldn't come when called and didn't run for treats. What should I do?

I bet they were just after the maggots!

 

[Twitchy Bee]

Going with molasses maybe. I did buy epsom in case of this. Maybe ill isolate and put it in her drinking water so I dont aspirate her. Ill put a tarp over the carcasses. They were snowed and rained on. I'm afraid she will die. She hates when I touch her but she let me pick her up and hold her. I'm pissed at my neighbor.

 

[Twitchy Bee]

I bet they were just after the maggots!

Its winter here. No maggots. It snowed on the carcasses a couple times and then warmed up. I bet the bacteria woke up or whatever. Hoping it just gets out of her system. I am worried

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Feeding chickens maggots can result in them getting botulism. The maggots ingest the tainted meat, the chickens eat the maggots, and the botulism toxin comes with the maggots. The same thing can also happen with meal worms.

 

[Twitchy Bee]

Feeding chickens maggots can result in them getting botulism. The maggots ingest the tainted meat, the chickens eat the maggots, and the botulism toxin comes with the maggots. The same thing can also happen with meal worms.

Its waaaaaay too cold for there to be maggots. He leaves the carcasses sitting in a bucket. His has snowed and then rained for two days and warmed enough for the carcasses to smell to high heaven. But no insects on them.

 

[AllenK RGV]

I'm just reminded of the last nasty rabbit my cat drug into his house of horrors storage shed by your description of the disposal method. I usually only find them when my nose knows they are there!

Regardless I think you are doing all the right things, I wish you the best!

 

[Eggcessive]

I really hope that your chickens get over eating the rotten meat. I would make sure they are drinking and offer some wet chicken feed and some chopped egg or rinsed canned tuna. Hopefully, their symptoms are only temporary. My dogs have gotten into some really bad things around our far, but chickens can be more unpredictable.

 

[Twitchy Bee]

I really hope that your chickens get over eating the rotten meat. I would make sure they are drinking and offer some wet chicken feed and some chopped egg or rinsed canned tuna. Hopefully, their symptoms are only temporary. My dogs have gotten into some really bad things around our far, but chickens can be more unpredictable.

I will do that. She was acting so weird and stunk to high heaven like a dead fox. Hopefully she will be better in the morning. Ill feed her the egg and maybe Epsom if she still looks out of it.