Egg stuck? Fly struck? (gross images)

[UnLadyLike]

Hi there! First time chicken keeper here! We have what i think is an Isa Brown and am not sure how old she is. She came to us by surprise about 6months ago. The past 3 days i have noticed she is lethargic, drinking but not eating, runny white coloured discharge, havent seen any solid poops. She seems puffed upp and pushing like she is constipated. Gave her a bath im warm water today and there were tiny maggots, maybe 10. I got them all off. I have sprayed her bum with some tea tree anticeptic and seperated her from the others. Im not sure if she is laying or not because she was in with others. I cant see an open wound or feel an egg trapped, but i am inexperienced in these things. I have attatched a few photos. This was after her bath. Help! I dont want to lose this wonderful chicken.
Also i have no $ for a vet visit sadly.

 

[micstrachan]

Hi there. Good job cleaning her up. I think more maggots can return, so keep an eye on that. It looks like vent gleet to me (like a chicken yeast infection), but I’m not experienced enough to know if they can have vent gleet and fly strike at the same time? I would also offer supportive care while you figure things out (clean, warm, indoor environment, vitamins and electrolytes in her water, extra protein, no sugary foods like fruit in case it’s vent gleet.

 

[UnLadyLike]

Hi there. Good job cleaning her up. I think more maggots can return, so keep an eye on that. It looks like vent gleet to me (like a chicken yeast infection), but I’m not experienced enough to know if they can have vent gleet and fly strike at the same time? I woyld alao offer supportive care while yoh figure things out (clean, warm, indoor environment, vitamins and electrolytes in her water, extra protein, no sugary foods like fruit in case it’s vent gleet.

Thanks! I have given her some calcium and vitamib D3 in her water. What kind of electrolytes could i use.
For supportive care, does she need a roost or will she be ok just on hay? I can fit a tiny bar in the cage if she needs it. But wont bother if she doesn't.
Thanks for your advice

 

[UnLadyLike]

I have just put some Apple Cider Vinegar in her water and gave her some yogurt, she wasnt interested but thats probably because i was watching her

 

[micstrachan]

Poultry electrolytes from a feed store or Amazon, if that’s an option, preferably with probiotic. If it turns out to be vent gleet, it will need to be treated. There is lots of information on vent gleet and other sites (like the chicken chick) online, though I have not treated it myelf.
She should be fine without a roost for a little while, but her bedding may soil easily.You might even consider a towel so it can easily be changed out.
It’s after midnight here in California, but I think you will get more responses in the morning.
In the mean time, here’ssome reading for you. Keep in mind, I could easily be wrong.
http://www.fresheggsdaily.com/2013/09/vent-gleet-symptoms-causes-and-natural.html?m=1
https://www.tillysnest.com/2012/12/vent-gleet-prevention-and-treatment-html/

 

[UnLadyLike]

Poultry electrolytes from a feed store or Amazon, if that’s an option, preferably with probiotic. If it turns out to be vent gleet, it will need to be treated. There is lots of information on vent gleet and other sites (like the chicken chick) online, though I have not treated it myelf.
She should be fine without a roost for a little while, but her bedding may soil easily.You might even consider a towel so it can easily be changed out.
It’s after midnight here in California, but I think you will get more responses in the morning.
In the mean time, here’ssome reading for you. Keep in mind, I could easily be wrong.
http://www.fresheggsdaily.com/2013/09/vent-gleet-symptoms-causes-and-natural.html?m=1
https://www.tillysnest.com/2012/12/vent-gleet-prevention-and-treatment-html/

Great thanks so much for the info! I have a night of reading ahead!....she is drinking the ACV water and eating the yoghurt!! So its a win anyway because she is finally having something

 

[rebrascora]

Looking at those butt feathers sticking out like that, I am wondering if she is swollen below her vent. Can you examine her and then compare to a healthy chicken and report back. Often an internal reproductive issue starts to put pressure on the gut and the bird is no longer able to do normal poops and mostly just white urates can be pushed past the blockage and dribble out, soiling the feathers and attracting flies. I think it is more likely to be this than vent gleet, particularly if there is some swelling below the vent and/or between the legs.

You may find trimming back her feathers there helps you to see what is going on more clearly and help to keep her clean. Applying some Vaseline or coconut oil to the skin below her vent should help prevent any further urates/poop from sticking to her skin. She may also benefit from regular baths and inspection to ensure some of those maggots have not burrowed into her. Cutting the feathers back should enable you to see any wound better. You might also try gently inserting a lubricated gloved finger into her vent and feeling for any masses inside. My gut feeling is that she has Salpingitis which is an infection of the oviduct, which is why you are seeing her straining...... her oviduct is probably packed with lash eggs that will not come out and the huge mass is now blocking her gut and preventing waste from being eliminated and her digestive tract is probably getting backed up. She may be starting to experience a slow or sour crop as a result and that will make her not want to eat. Unfortunately if I am right, there is little to no hope for her and it might be kinder to euthanize her but hopefully I am wrong and she is just egg bound. Inserting a finger into her vent and lubricating and massaging it a little inside whilst she is soaking may help her to expel something.... either poop or egg, which may give her some relief.
Do you know when she last laid an egg? Has she been able to eliminate any solid looking poop.... if you have her on a towel or puppy pads, it is easier to monitor poop and take a photo for us to see.
If you can get back to us with a report of any abdominal swelling, what her crop feels like and if you can feel any masses inside her and perhaps another photo of her butt with the feathers trimmed, it may give us something more to go on.

For info, vent gleet will normally smell.

 

[UnLadyLike]

Thanks for your responce. Im waiting for hubby to get home to help me clip her and do a better examination, then i will try and get a photo. I have attatched a few picks of her poop and that shell thing she pushed out thismorning. She is eating a small ammount of yoghurt but thats all. Her bum definately smells rotten!

 

[rebrascora]

That looks like a weak shelled egg that has collapsed inside her although it also looks like it may have traces of lash egg (infection) inside... difficult to make out in the photo.


The sharp edges may have scratched the lining of the oviduct (there is blood on the shell) and allowed an infection in. It may have collapsed inside her because there is an obstruction like a tumour that has prevented it's passage out of the cloaca or because she was straining so hard due to a blockage of lash egg higher up the oviduct.
The rotten smell is very concerning and usually indicates an infection which will probably need antibiotics to give her half a chance, but I fear this may not end well. You may want to research how to euthanize a chicken if you have not done it before, just so that you are prepared if necessary or consider taking her to a vet if that is an option.

I'm sorry I can't be more optimistic.