Fly strike

[Chickchick121]

One of our hens died of fly strike a few days ago. We have never had it before and someone we know told us when we asked about our chicken and they knew what it had died from. What are ways that help prevent this that work?

 

[The Coop Crew]

Make sure the vent area stays clean. They are attracted to wet/gross places. Also they are attracted to any open sores so regularly checking your chickens to make sure they don’t have any wounds will help prevent it. Also immediately treating any open wounds.

 

[swamphiker]

I'm sorry about your hen. Preventing fly strike has more to do with preventing flies from laying eggs on the chicken than trapping flies in the coop. Fly strike happens when there is a buildup of droppings on a chicken or an open wound, both of which attract female flies looking for a place to lay eggs. The best prevention is to check your chickens for either of these issues fairly frequently. If you do find a poop buildup, cleaning the feathers by washing should work. For a chicken with an open wound, make sure to clean and treat the wound with chlorhexidine or another antiseptic until the wound heals over enough that it is dry.

 

[Chickchick121]

Make sure the vent area stays clean. They are attracted to wet/gross places. Also they are attracted to any open sores so regularly checking your chickens to make sure they don’t have any wounds will help prevent it. Also immediately treating any open wounds.

Thank you so much!

 

[Chickchick121]

I'm sorry about your hen. Preventing fly strike has more to do with preventing flies from laying eggs on the chicken than trapping flies in the coop. Fly strike happens when there is a buildup of droppings on a chicken or an open wound, both of which attract female flies looking for a place to lay eggs. The best prevention is to check your chickens for either of these issues fairly frequently. If you do find a poop buildup, cleaning the feathers by washing should work. For a chicken with an open wound, make sure to clean and treat the wound with chlorhexidine or another antiseptic until the wound heals over enough that it is dry.

Thank you so much! This is so helpful!

 

[The Coop Crew]

Thank you so much!

You’re very welcome!

 

[Chickchick121]

Does this look like fly strike?

 

[The Coop Crew]

View attachment 3885700
Does this look like fly strike?

Do you see any maggots? If so, I would say yes. If not it might just be irritated. You can always soak her bottom and see if any maggots come out in the water!

 

[Chickchick121]

Do you see any maggots? If so, I would say yes. If not it might just be irritated. You can always soak her bottom and see if any maggots come out in the water!

I don’t see any maggots. I will soak her bottom and see. Thank you!

 

[Chickchick121]

Do you see any maggots? If so, I would say yes. If not it might just be irritated. You can always soak her bottom and see if any maggots come out in the water!

No maggots but I’m not sure what this is.