My chicken has maggots!!!!

Yesterday my father discovered my chicken, who we named "hulk", had not run off with the rest of the chickens. Upon further investigation he found maggots under her tail, later when I checked there were also flies swarming. Later that day we gave Hulk a bath to start getting rid of the maggots. After 3 different soaks in the tub, (each 10 -15 minutes) there was a definite reduction in maggots. We removed the rest of the ones we could see with a pair of tweezers and then trimmed her feathers around the area. Most of them were poopy anyways. We set her in a cage away from the others and where there would be less flies.

Today her wounds have appeared to have crusted over, but she smells. I hope it's just the poop and not flesh actually rotting. I need help because I don't know what to do from here. She seems fine and I'm pretty sure she's eating and drinking.

Welcome! Sorry it us under bad circumstances. You have a real emergency and there are great resources here for you. The smell is very likely rotting flesh. Is there any way you can house her inside? You'll need to bath her again, Even one fly will lay more eggs in the wound until she is fully healed. I'll go hunting for a recent link that had very detailed info on treatment. I'll be right back.

update

After giving her another bath I sadly discovered not all the maggots are gone. I spotted a large one and hundreds of the small ones near the top. I currently have my parents searching for something that kills maggots but they aren't chicken people. So I don't know what they'll find. I can't get it for a few hours anyways.

I also discovered more of the fly eggs. So I will be finding a new spot for Hulk. I had her inside a shed but hope to move her into the house.

She is in the process of drying off right now, and I might give her another bath in a few hours. She seems to be eating but also tired which worries me.

There are some useful treatments here if you browse the threads. I wish you the best luck. You do need to clean her bum, remove feathers and any poo. keep it clean and dry and free from flies. New maggots can appear overnight. Antibiotics are recommended too.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/newsearch?search=Fly+strike

After giving her a bath I found more eggs and parents have bought stuff to kill the maggots. I will try to get her inside ASAP. Thank you so much for replying.

It sounds like you are doing your best. I am in my first season with chickens and have not had this problem, but I did read about it at the link below. It is called "Fly Strike." It happens to other animals as well, such as sheep.

http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2014/07/flystrike-in-backyard-chickens-causes.html

Maybe now that you have a name for it, you can find more information. Good luck!

Mutt Farm said:

There are some useful treatments here if you browse the threads. I wish you the best luck. You do need to clean her bum, remove feathers and any poo. keep it clean and dry and free from flies. New maggots can appear overnight.  Antibiotics are recommended too. 

https://www.backyardchickens.com/newsearch?search=Fly+strike

Click to expand...

Thank you so much!!

MaddiesChickens said:

update

After giving her another bath I sadly discovered not all the maggots are gone. I spotted a large one and hundreds of the small ones near the top. I currently have my parents searching for something that kills maggots but they aren't chicken people. So I don't know what they'll find. I can't get it for a few hours anyways.

I also discovered more of the fly eggs. So I will be finding a new spot for Hulk. I had her inside a shed but hope to move her into the house.

She is in the process of drying off right now, and I might give her another bath in a few hours. She seems to be eating but also tired which worries me.

Click to expand...

Try to offer her some scrambled egg? Also, some electrolytes with vitamins like Save-A Chick in her water? Keep her warm. No surprise the maggots are back and more eggs are hatching. Yoy need to scrub them off her skin. If you'll scrub her bum with Betadine Scrub (any drug or feed store) that will help kill maggots and help remove the dead tissue. You'll need to do that daily. I use a toothbrush to get the eggs out. Keep picking them out with tweezers too. Keep the wound open and dry. You can use neomyacin (or generic) ointment to coat the wound. I sure hope she recovers.

Sarahal88 said:

It sounds like you are doing your best. I am in my first season with chickens and have not had this problem, but I did read about it at the link below. It is called "Fly Strike." It happens to other animals as well, such as sheep.

http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2014/07/flystrike-in-backyard-chickens-causes.html

Maybe now that you have a name for it, you can find more information. Good luck!

Click to expand...

Thank you! This is my first time dealing with flystrike, and am grateful for any help.

Mutt Farm said:

Try to offer her some scrambled egg? Also, some electrolytes with vitamins like Save-A Chick in her water?  Keep her warm. No surprise the maggots are back and more eggs are hatching. Yoy need to scrub them off her skin.

Click to expand...

Okay! I'll get her some nutrients. I did buy a spray for animals that kills the maggots and repels flies. (Prozac screw worm aerosol) and used it earlier. It seems to have killed most, and after a soak, I only saw a few tiny ones. After picking them off I found some eggs and did my best to pull them off. I will look into the Betadine scrub and hop to it.