Flystrike question - warning graphic picture

[Plinky]

Hello, some folks have been kind enough to give good advice about this hen, but I have since been able to upload a photo.
I believe that the picture shows her intestines exposed and necrotic tissue. You can barely see her vent below the wound.
I have been treating her with penicillin since Sunday evening. She is perkier and standing more than sitting.
The question is: Can a chicken survive something like this without removing the necrotic tissue and sewing up the wound? I cannot do either of these things and I cannot afford the vet.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Are all the maggots gone?
It's hard to see the wound, if you have a larger photo/file to upload that may be helpful.
You would not want to sew up a wound like that, but it would likely be beneficial to debride it - scrub the dead tissue away using a rough wash cloth and Chlorhexidine (Hibiclens).

There's no way to know if she is going to survive, but it sounds like her chances are hopeful, especially if the maggots did not breach the intestinal wall.

Here's a link to your other thread in case you can't find it. @coach723 gave you very good advice on there.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/flystrike.1306129/

 

[Plinky]

Thanks, yes I really appreciate coach723's advice. Unfortunately I was not able to upload a photo before, so coach723 did not see this. When you say intestinal wall, do mean an opening in the actual intestines? I do not believe that has happened, but I do think the intestines are visible, meaning the wound goes through the abdominal wall. The "intestines" part looks pinker this morning, but also more pronounced.
I have not seen any more maggots. I hope they are not deep inside her.

 

[coach723]

Picture is not close enough to really tell, but I'm skeptical that you are actually seeing intestines, sometimes the fatty tissue under the skin can look lumpy like intestine. Where is the vent in relation to the wound? Just trying to get perspective. From what I can see it appears to be healing. Is there still a bad smell? Getting worse or better? I would definitely not stitch it up, for multiple reasons. One, you don't want to close bacteria in there, two you need to make sure that no more maggots show up, it would be really bad to close them up in there. Most chicken wounds are left open, they will slowly heal from the edges in. I've seen much worse pictures of flystrike wounds, so I don't think this is hopeless. Unless I'm not seeing something. It will take some time for her to heal up, it won't happen overnight, it could be a couple of months. I would keep doing what you have been, especially since she seems to be feeling better. You can always reassess if she takes a turn for the worse. Chickens heal up amazingly from some pretty awful stuff given time and support.
Here are some links with some more pictures of other cases of flystrike, may help and encourage you:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/flystrike-in-backyard-chickens-causes/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/need-urgent-help-for-flystrike.1161622/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/fly-strike-picture-of-wound-progression-of-healing.822173/
https://bamahomestead.com/does-your-chicken-have-fly-strike-read-how-to-cure-it/
http://www.poultrydvm.com/cases/buffy

 

[Plinky]

Thank you.
The vent is below the wound in the picture. It's the pinkish area and almost seems pushed away by the wound.

 

[Plinky]

An update on Blinky. She seems perkier, but the wound looks pretty much the same. Maybe, maybe slightly reduced in size. I'm giving her watered down food and water with a dropper because she is not reallly interested in food. I just gave her the 6th penicillin shot. I'm wondering if I should go beyond 7 days and if so, how much longer? I read in one of the links above that Silver Sulfadiazine was prescribed. Can that be found over the counter? Her poop is still green- essentially looks like pesto. I don't think there is any smell now.

 

[Plinky]

I finished 7 days of injected penicillin. Blinky is more alert, there is no smell. But she is still not interested in food and keeps pooping soft green stuff that looks like pesto sauce. Should I continue antibiotics or is she just on her own in fighting this? I will continue cleaning and topical neosporin.

 

[Plinky]

Hello folks, I think I'm losing the battle with my fly-struck chicken.
Here is a photo from mid-day yesterday (about the same today). She is eating a little on her own now, which is good. I'm still giving her water/electrolytes by dropper as well as nutridrench. Finished three more days penicillin yesterday. Her poop is still green. She is alert and on her feet most of the time. But, this picture shows a light greyish colored area at the right of the wound that wasn't like that before. I don't think it looks good. The reddish color is residue from the betadine.
At this point I think I'm going to continue what I'm doing and hope for the best. If she takes a turn for the worst I'll have her put down. Thanks for all the help and advice.

 

[danceswithronin]

All you can do is keep doing what you're doing. Personally I'd cull if she stops taking food and water voluntarily, otherwise I'd just nurse her and cross your fingers.

Is she being kept indoors?

 

[Plinky]

Yes, she is in a large dog crate in the garage. When it was cooler last week and she was weaker I had a heat lamp as well.