HELP Found my barred rock full of maggots

[Jtaranc]

My barred rock Laverne did not come out of the coop this morning and I realized her vent area was absolutely full of poop and when i looked closer i saw maggots.

After 2 hours of hydro therapy, I then clipped her feathers to see what on earth I was dealing with.

Her vent is normal, but under it, it looks like an abscess in a circle. The circle is soft and squishy. Obviously it stinks.

Hen is eating.

Any ideas?

This barred rock always has something wrong with her

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Your poor bird! I've only dealt with this once and I culled the hen (she had water belly which partly lead to the flystrike), but this article I found afterwards appeared helpful:

What to do when your flock is struck by FLYSTRIKE!​

 

[casportpony]

Can you pluck the feather and debride the edges a little more?

The take a side shot of her standing? I want to see how far the bulge protrudes from her body.

 

[Susan Skylark]

You need to figure out what the lump is before trying to treat it. It looks almost like exposed muscle but hard to tell in photo. Could also be tumor (a muscle tumor is a thing!) or abscess. Abscess you’d want to hot pack or warm epsom salts until you know where to lance it or it ruptured. Tumor is bad. Exposed muscle/old wound is best cleansed gently a couple times a day with warm water, getting rid of dirt and scabby stuff, may take several weeks to heal. Obviously keep bugs and others birds at bay.

 

[Jtaranc]

Is this water belly?

 

[casportpony]

Is this water belly?

Yes. Did you drain that from her?

 

[Jtaranc]

Yes. Did you drain that from her?

Yes. I got about 160 mls from her belly. That circle is now caved in. I poked her because her abdomen just didn't feel and look right. I never poked that circle just around it.

 

[casportpony]

Yes. I got about 160 mls from her belly. That circle is now caved in. I poked her because her abdomen just didn't feel and look right. I never poked that circle just around it.

I've seen this happen before. Their bellies get huge and they don't defacate proplery, so the poop & urates create a sore, and the maggogs take over.

I've drained a few and had some of them live another six months. Are you thinking of keeping her going?

 

[Jtaranc]

I've seen this happen before. Their bellies get huge and they don't defacate proplery, so the poop & urates create a sore, and the maggogs take over.

I've drained a few and had some of them live another six months. Are you thinking of keeping her going?

Yes. As long as she is otherwise OK. She is eating well. I work in vet med so I'm comfortable draining her and when it's time my boss can euthanize her.

Honestly I am not surprised. This hen spends alot of time in my house. She's had sour crop a few times and twice she stopped eating and turned yellow. She got better with supportive care and her color went back to normal but obviously she has stuff going on with her.

 

[casportpony]

It sounds like she's in good, competent hands with you. I think the wound will heal if you can keep it clean and keep the flies off of it. How does your clinic treat flystrike? You may want to ask your vet for their opinion.