Fly Strike

[bhawk-23]

I have a 5 yr old hen who had fly strike. I cleaned and bathed her Saturday evening removing everything. Her wound was not necrotic that I could tell. Her next 4 Epsom salt soaks (over
24 hr time period) were clear of any worms. I used vetricyn, permethrin spray and blu kote after the last clear soak.

We are at 48 hrs and she is still not eating on her own. I am now syringing water with nutridrench and force fed a very small amount of scrambled egg and cut blueberries.

My questions are:

Why would she be pulling out feathers? I cannot see anything on her skin that would be irritating to her and her feathers are clean and in perfect condition.

How do I remove the blu kote so I can see her wound better? I need to assess it’s healing but really screwed myself by applying that.

She has never been super social with us and I wonder if being inside is too stressful. Would allowing her time outside free ranging with the flock right before roosting help relieve some stress and possibly get her to eat? We have minimal flies and I can soak her again when I bring her back in for the night.

I’d really love some thoughts.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Do you have photos of the wounds?

Where is she plucking the feathers? Near the wound or?
If near the wound, it may be painful or itchy. Try applying an ointment that will keep the tissue coated and more moist. Triple antibiotic would be a good choice.

Blu Kote can be good stuff, but you're right, it also makes it hard to access a wound. Alcohol can get a lot of staining off, but that may not be a good thing to use on the wound. Try a bit of oil to see if that will help remove some of the staining.

Being inside can be stressful, but sometimes it's necessary to protect wounds until healed enough.
Does she have another hen or two that she hangs out with or gets along with?
Sometimes when a hen has some company, she will show a bit more interest in eating, provide them both with a little dish of food with tidbits of something they like, like scrambled egg, bits of tomato, etc. Don't bring in a spazy crazy hen, that would be awesome to see, but you may not like it.

Let me know how she's doing.

 

[bhawk-23]

@Wyorp Rock

I am taking her out to bath her now and see about removing some of the blu kote with coconut oil and getting some pictures. I did not take pics originally because the wound looked like it would heal up ok. It’s the not eating and feather pulling that concerns me.

I was in the other room when I heard her crow. I’ve attached the video for entertainment. lol You can also see the amount of feathers pulled in a 14 hr time period.

Side note: I have figured out which hen I caught crowing at 5:30 am. Apparently it is not the top hen, but the loner? Didn’t see that coming

 

[bhawk-23]

Here are pictures of the wound. The blu kote makes it look worse than it is in my opinion. The wound is roughly the size of a quarter or just over. I tried to get one of the depth but the blu kote really messes with the looks. Outside of keeping it moist, what should I be doing to facilitate healing?

The feather removal looks like a broody pattern. They are on the under belly and her skin looks ok. She is 4-5 years old and has never gone broody, though we have had a few others (2 currently) this summer try to set.

She is strong, perked up, tail up, preening and talking, as you saw in the video. Looking at her I don’t see a sick chicken, which I totally have plenty of experience with considering the MG and MD.

Out of curiosity, how long did it take for the larva to eat that large of a hole? I have so much guilt about missing it, but I do think she (or possibly soon to be a he) should recover by wound standards. But not if I cannot get her to eat.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

t’s the not eating and feather pulling that concerns me.

Here are pictures of the wound. The blu kote makes it look worse than it is in my opinion. The wound is roughly the size of a quarter or just over. I tried to get one of the depth but the blu kote really messes with the looks. Outside of keeping it moist, what should I be doing to facilitate healing?

The feather removal looks like a broody pattern. They are on the under belly and her skin looks ok. She is 4-5 years old and has never gone broody, though we have had a few others (2 currently) this summer try to set.

I think you have nailed the feather loss. I very much enjoyed the video of her, she's beautiful! Her crow is a lot of fun, but she also is making some broody clucks (to my ears anyway). I think she may be going broody on you.
If that's the case, often they don't eat as much. I'd still try to encourage her to eat/drink the best you can.

Is she pooping a lot during the day or is it like one huge terrible poop that makes your eyes water...(broody poop!).

From what I can see of the wound, I think it looks good. Just keep tending to it like you have been. As long as the maggots are gone, she should heal up just fine.

How long did it take the maggots to do the damage? Well, in warm weather, maggots can hatch in around 24hrs after eggs have been laid by flies, so it can happen quickly. Once hatched, maggots immediate begin to feed on tissue. So 24-48hrs would be my guess, not long.

 

[bhawk-23]

Thank you! She is so lovely and graceful to watch. Docile though not overly friendly. I’ve never seen her quarrel with any other chicken. She is just the sweetest. And she is naturally Mareks resistant having ridden out the infection and still hanging on. I’d love to get more Braekel hens.

I noticed her hiding out on Friday but we had a hawk swoop that afternoon so I assumed she was just being super cautious. Then Saturday she was still hiding out so I checked her over and found it. If I would have not assumed it was the hawk on Friday I could have caught it sooner.

No broody poops. She is barely pooping. That is why I am syringe feeding water and popping some scrambled egg and blueberries down just to have something in her. Tonight she is eating some lettuce on her own. I’ll keep her inside until she heals up. I have got to get that blu kote off to see it better though, definitely learned my lesson.

Since you see her video, can you tell me what the black patches on her comb are? They are part of her coloring, have been there for 4 years now. Not frostbite, bugs or any sickness that I know of. During the Mareks outbreak I figured she would go down thinking she wasn’t getting enough oxygen. But nope, it’s just part of her coloring I guess I do not really see a lot of info about spotted combs though.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

It's hard to see her comb, but to me it looks like she has some Mulberry coloring on the comb. It's pigment and has to do with genetics which I know nothing about LOL

 

[bhawk-23]

It's hard to see her comb, but to me it looks like she has some Mulberry coloring on the comb. It's pigment and has to do with genetics which I know nothing about LOL

I looked that up and I think you are correct. Thanks, I’ve always wondered since it coincided with the time MG and MD hit us.

When can I put her outside again? She can free range with the flock during the day and come inside for the night. I can keep a close watch on her wound. It is not oozing and that stubborn blue kote is, at least, a good mask to safe guard any extra attention from the other girls. I am keeping it covered in ointment and I do have the permethrin spray I can apply when she comes in at night if that would help. She is still not eating well and I am getting concerned.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'd try letting her out for a while to see if she perks up. Often being separated they don't eat very well.

Good idea to put a bit of permethrin on her.