Flystrike help

[Emmya]

HI all,
I have been helping an older ailing chicken with flystrike for the past couple weeks. We noticed small maggots one day, and by daily washing kept her clean and happy. We kept her inside with us every night and she was ok. We recently went away camping and she only had one washing in 3 days and when I came home, the maggots were large and I can even see some under her skin. I am appalled and it is so disgusting. I don't see a major open wound, but obviously they got under there somehow. I did all the same washing as before and she is soaking for 20 min as I write this. How do you get the ones under the skin? I have been using Dawn dishsoap the past few weeks, and today I added in peroxide to see if those suckers would be drawn out. I don't see dark tissue or blood, but just light grey masses where they are hiding and them some darker ones just under the skin
I know the underlying cause is runny poop because she probably has cancer or some kind of reproductive issue. She is a 4 yr old Isa brown and our fav. hen. She hasn't had much of an appetite lately, but was happy to walk around with her other 2 buddies outside the past couple weeks. Should I cull? Or should I fight through this to give her the last couple weeks of her life. We have no vet here or anywhere close. I have vertericyn and did manage her past wounds well with that.

 

[Emmya]

I should clarify that the first time I noticed flystrike, I got them all. I was very vigilant in picking them off and there were NO signs after her first bout....this one I was stuck as we had no one who could help when we were away.

 

[Eggcessive]

It might be kind to her to cull if it is really bad this time. But soaking in warm water with Dawn or Epsom salts about 3 times over the next 24 hours, and removing as many as you see would be what I would do to try and save her. Get some permethrin spray at the feed store, or a product called SWAT gel for horses, and apply that to the area after soaking. Usually hens who get this do have an underlying problem, but not always. I would think about spraying your coop and run with permethrin spray as well, and perhaps getting some fly traps to control the flies. A good buy is Martins or Gordins permethrin 10 concentrate in a pint or quart, and then mixing it with water 1 tsp per quart of water. That will treat the coop, and also the chicken, and is good for treatment of lice and mites. Tractor Supply usually has those.

 

[Emmya]

When I got home she was standing upright, head and feet cold, eyes closed, looking absolutely miserable. The maggots I could see were mostly under her skin and I knew it was the end. Our neighbor who is a vet tech was able to come and put her down for us. I'm thankful for kind people like her. I'm very sad to lose our favourite snuggly hen

 

[Eggcessive]

I’m sorry that she was beyond help, and for your loss. Thanks for putting her out of her misery.