Is that the inside of my chicken? - Should I put her down?

[Kalthia]

My Blue Laced Red Wyandotte - was fine 2 days ago. She is just under a year old.
Today - I wanted to check her because I see she is suddenly losing a lot of feathers.
I turned her over after a bath and it looks like she is split up the middle. She has white worms - which I assume are maggots.

My other birds seem fine - but I am going to inspect each carefully today.

I do not know if anything happened - what could make this happen? Can she be saved?
After a bath she went to picking at her butt -


There is no bleeding that I see - when I flipped her over, it looks like the skin covering from her breastbone back to her vent split open, and I can run my fingers in and under that. I see the worms deep inside going into a hole next to her left leg. Are those her organs I am seeing?

She was eating regularly and had a good time running with the other chickens in the yard 2 days ago.

They have a coop - and small run and a large run. Lately three of the five stay outside the coop - but she and another usually go in at night.

 

[NatJ]

Yes, I think you are seeing some of her organs.
Yes, I think those white worms are probably maggots. But if they are maggots, then this happened at least a few days ago (long enough for flies to lay eggs, that hatched into maggots.)

I do not think she is going to heal without some kind of medical help.

If you have access to a vet that deals with poultry, you could ask them. If someone was able to remove all the maggots, clean anything dirty, check for other injuries, and stitch her up: she might have a chance to recover.

Regarding the question in the title-- if I was the owner, I would probably put her down. I do not have access to a vet that would see poultry, and I do not have the skills to recognize what other injuries may be present, and to stitch that up properly. If you have access to a vet, or have the right skills, you might make a different decision than I would.

 

[Kalthia]

Yes, I think you are seeing some of her organs.
Yes, I think those white worms are probably maggots. But if they are maggots, then this happened at least a few days ago (long enough for flies to lay eggs, that hatched into maggots.)

I do not think she is going to heal without some kind of medical help.

If you have access to a vet that deals with poultry, you could ask them. If someone was able to remove all the maggots, clean anything dirty, check for other injuries, and stitch her up: she might have a chance to recover.

Regarding the question in the title-- if I was the owner, I would probably put her down. I do not have access to a vet that would see poultry, and I do not have the skills to recognize what other injuries may be present, and to stitch that up properly. If you have access to a vet, or have the right skills, you might make a different decision than I would.

Thank you - I am desperately trying to find a vet open today - it isn't going well.

 

[tripletfeb]

I would personally put her down. But that is a decision that only you can make. If she were mine, I wouldn't want her to be in pain, chickens hide pain very well. Sorry you are going through this

 

[Kalthia]

I would personally put her down. But that is a decision that only you can make. If she were mine, I wouldn't want her to be in pain, chickens hide pain very well. Sorry you are going through this

Thank you - she was put to peace. I'm still crying about it, but it was the best thing for her.

 

[LaFleche]

Thank you - she was put to peace. I'm still crying about it, but it was the best thing for her.

You did the right thing.

Inspect all of you other chickens carefully as deadly fly strike can happen within a day or two.

 

[theoldchick]

Thank you - she was put to peace. I'm still crying about it, but it was the best thing for her.

https://the-chicken-chick.com/flystrike-in-backyard-chickens-causes/

 

[tripletfeb]

Thank you - she was put to peace. I'm still crying about it, but it was the best thing for her.

I'm sorry you had to make that decision but it was the best call. She is at peace now