Flystrike and vent problem (Graphic photos)

[Kiki]

I give them suitable kitchen scraps (berries, veggies), a sunflower raisin snack mix (Flock Party) from time to time, and I let them graze the yard a couple days a week.

Keep these treats to a very small amount and not daily.
The more treats you give the less of the complete/balanced diet they eat.
Too many treats can lead to over weight birds...over weight birds are prone to serious problems.
Over weight birds are more likely to have reproductive issues.

 

[Jhs51684]

Often flystrike occurs because the bird is already ill, so I do hope that this abnormal egg is a one time event, not a sign of serious reproductive issues.
All the best for her.
Mary

Thanks! I hope it's nothing underlying. She is 3 years old and never had any serious problems. She seems to be recuperating well but I'm certainly keeping a close eye on her and keeping her secluded. Thanks for your input and concern!

 

[Folly's place]

Sadly, many hens will develop health issues by three years of age.
Mary

 

[Eggcessive]

Glad that your hen is recovering from flystrike. It sounds like you are doing the right things. Since your hen had a deflated egg membrane inside her vent, I would keep an eye on her laying, and look for any discharge that looks like egg matter. These reproductive problems can be very common in laying hens, especially after their first season of laying eggs. Sometimes they have a problem making hard shells due to a defect of the shell gland which can occur if there has been an outbreak of infectious bronchitis. Sometimes there is infection, and why some consider using an antibiotic. Providing plenty of crushed oyster shell, egg shells crumbled and fed, and a nutritious feed with vitamins and minerals is about all you can do. For a few days I would consider giving some human calcium with vitamin D crushed into some cooked egg or feed. Good luck with her recovery.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thanks again for your concern. It seemed to me to just be remnants of a soft shell. This morning it looked like a few more little pieces of soft shell came out. I haven't seen a maggot in 3 days, I'm pretty certain I caught the flystrike early because they were very small (slightly smaller than a grain of rice). The wound is still ugly but I've been spraying with Vetericyn. The most promising sign is that she is much more active, making noise and her weight has definitely went up.

So she is expelling some more pieces of egg membrane?
Do you happen to notice if she had a discharge that looked like egg yolk or albumen?
I'm glad she is feeling a little better, but I would be concerned that she had egg (yolk) "leak" back into the oviduct. If she were mine, I would administer antibiotics to help fight any infection. Baytril or Amoxicillin can be ordered online.

 

[Folly's place]

If she is developing egg yolk peritonitis, antibiotics will help, but actual recovery is less likely.
Now for the rant;
Consider too, nearly no antibiotics are okay to give laying hens, because the drug will be absorbed by her egg yolks.
Baytril is a very nice drug, but it's not approved for any livestock species, trying to keep this class of drugs (fluoroquinolones) useful for fighting human infections.
Giving her either drug means that any future eggs should be thrown out, and that she shouldn't be sold or served as dinner.
Many of us grow our own chickens and eggs because we care about the food we eat, and would be horrified to learn that 'store bought' eggs contained these unapproved drugs.
Sorry, rant over.
Mary

 

[Eggcessive]

I have seen Fish Mox (amoxicillin) capsules recently at TSC.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have seen Fish Mox (amoxicillin) capsules recently at TSC.

That's great! Not in our stores, we can order it and pick it up there though

 

[Folly's place]

Yes, amazing drugs are still available for aquarium fish, meant for them only, not to go into the food chain.
Years ago I heard a lecture by a veterinarian (California!) who treated aquarium fish and koi; he talked about the incredible overuse of antibiotics by at least some fish keepers, and the 'superbugs' they had in their stock. Amazing, not in a good way.
Mary

 

[Eggcessive]

I agree that antibiotics should not be used routinely or without good cause in chickens. But for a hen that might be suffering from an infection, many vets would treat with an AB. I worked for many years in the medical profession, and am aware of the growing antibiotic resistance. But I would not be able to find a vet in my area to treat a chicken.