Fly strike

[gerberagirl]

One of our hens had diarrhea and now has fly strike. She was fine yesterday afternoon, but this morning we discovered the maggots. We bathed her and got the maggots off, did an Eldon salt bath and sprayed her with Veterycin. Then we put her in a cage in the house. We just bathed her again and only found a few more maggots and plan on bathing her again tomorrow. My question is about the skin under her vent. It just doesn’t look right. I don’t think it’s poop since I washed the area, and this is the best photo I could get. Is it damaged skin from the maggots? Anything I can do besides spraying Veterycin?

 

[Eggcessive]

The maggots have eaten through her skin unfortunately. I would probably soak her again in the morning and make sure of no more maggots. Antibiotic ointment would be good to coat the area under the vent twice a day. Permethrin spray can be used on the area to kill all maggots. Eventually the skin should start healing. How old is she and does she lay eggs?

 

[gerberagirl]

The maggots have eaten through her skin unfortunately. I would probably soak her again in the morning and make sure of no more maggots. Antibiotic ointment would be good to coat the area under the vent twice a day. Permethrin spray can be used on the area to kill all maggots. Eventually the skin should start healing. How old is she and does she lay eggs?

Thanks for the quick response. She is 2.5 years old and still lays eggs at times. Would neosporin without the pain relief be a good ointment to put on?

 

[FarmerGirl101]

I would also wash the area to ensure that there are no more maggots too after a soak. Betadine would be my choice. Aloedine could also be used in a pinch.

 

[FarmerGirl101]

Would neosporin without the pain relief be a good ointment to put on?

Neosporin should work.

 

[gerberagirl]

Neosporin should work.

Great! I don’t have betadine and the stores are closed for the night.

 

[FarmerGirl101]

Great! I don’t have betadine and the stores are closed for the night.

That's ok. You don't really need it but it is good to have on hand as it is great to clean wounds with it. Just no dish soap please on open wounds.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thanks for the quick response. She is 2.5 years old and still lays eggs at times. Would neosporin without the pain relief be a good ointment to put on?

Yes, you can use Neosporin without pain relief.

Continue to clean/soak the area to make sure all maggots are gone and follow up with your ointment.

The maggots have eaten through her skin unfortunately. I would probably soak her again in the morning and make sure of no more maggots. Antibiotic ointment would be good to coat the area under the vent twice a day. Permethrin spray can be used on the area to kill all maggots. Eventually the skin should start healing. How old is she and does she lay eggs?

 

[Eggcessive]

All you need for spraying the wound is salt 2 tsp per quart, which is called saline. It is mild, cheap, and equal to the body’s pH. You can soak in that as well, just use the same 2 tsp per quart of water in a dish pan. Many use warm water with a small amount of epsom salts, a small squirt of Dawn, a capfull of Betadine or chlorhexidene/Hibiclens. Neosporin or triple antibiotic, Polysporin, Bacitracin are all acceptible ointments to apply to the skin until it heals.

 

[gerberagirl]

Thanks for all of the feedback. When I checked on her this morning she looked a lot better. We bathed her again and didn’t find any maggots so that’s a relief. I’ll keep her in the house and hopefully her skin will heal