Maggots in chicken wounds

[chickenchickenbutt]

Hey guys, me again! I am freaking TF out! I work with animals on the daily and have seen some nasty and gruesome things. but i think this takes the cake!
I have a hen about 3 yrs old I found her laying down in the coop yesterday evening with her head hung low. I picked her up and on inspection she was covered in blood and she has three open wounds one of which looks like a puncture on her neck with the skin ripped open. blah blah blah that being said she looks alert Shes eating and drinking. I started her on some avian antibiotics and cleaned the wounds out with peroxide because it smells like infection. that being said i just got home from work and found her. shes movin around walking a bit but still has her head hung low. i was looking at her wound and to my horror there are hundreds of larvae squirming around. not fly maggots, im guessing gnats perhaps? wtf do i do? the only vet in my small town who deals with livestock/avian is on vacation for two weeks. my boss who is a certified vet tech (im also a vet tech.) is also on vacation and out of the country. im so grossed out and horrified!

 

[Potatofluffycheeksforever]

Pics might help, sorry im no expert! Hang tight Maybe these people can help
@casportpony
@Eggcessive
@Wyorp Rock
@shabby chic-hens

 

[chickenchickenbutt]

Pics might help, sorry im no expert! Hang tight Maybe these people can help
@casportpony
@Eggcessive
@Wyorp Rock
@shabby chic-hens

Thanks! I will post pics as soon as I can

 

[artbykarenehaley]

This is serious. I'm so so sorry. You will need to remove every single one of those maggots. this is life-threatening.

You're going to need tweezers, gauze, probably a saline solution (salt water mixture) to rinse the injuries. After you remove them all, I would use non pain relief Neosporin to treat the areas for bacteria. You will need to check her frequently to remove any more that hatch later or that you might have missed. If they are working their way into her body too deeply they will begin damaging her organs or cause internal bleeding, and this will kill her. This is flystrike; it's what killed my first guinea pig. It's horrible!

If she starts to get more and more lethargic, give her a cup of sugar water (1 cup water, 1 tsp sugar).

I'm so sorry for your hen! She should be kept in an indoor hospital cage like a wire dog crate to protect her from more eggs from flying insects and from pecking from other chickens.

 

[room onthebroom]

Ugh! Fly strike is the worst! If she’s healthy enough for a bath put her in one. Swishing them off her with your fingers will get them off pretty fast.

Make sure she gets completely dry after her bath. Put some ointment like neosporin or betadineon on her wounds.

Keep her in the house where there are no flies & keep her under a heat lamp for a few days.

 

[Eggcessive]

Are most of the wounds on or around her neck? Those wounds need to be soaked or flushed with warm soapy water, saline, or Epsom salts water. Table salt 2 tsp dissolved in each quart of water will make saline. If necessary, use a magnifier and tweezers to get all of the maggots off. This soak or flush must be repeated several times in the next day to get all of the newly hatched maggots. Keep her separated inside, warm, and offer electrolytes from a cup often. If she will eat wet chicken feed or scrambled egg, that would be good.

 

[Eggcessive]

Here is a good article on flystrike:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/flystrike-in-backyard-chickens-causes/

 

[Eggcessive]

If wound care is needed once maggots are gone, instead of peroxide, use 2% chlorhexidene or weakened betadine. Saline is fine, once any infection or odor is gone. Let us know how she is doing tomorrow.

 

[Lilbitsnpieces]

I concur with All the above..I use black strap molasses instead of sugar as it has many minerals....best to you..bathing is best if you can..Luke warm water...keep her inside...cover wounds ..I use a wound spray to help repels ANY flies or gnats...

 

[artbykarenehaley]

I concur with All the above..I use black strap molasses instead of sugar as it has many minerals....best to you..bathing is best if you can..Luke warm water...keep her inside...cover wounds ..I use a wound spray to help repels ANY flies or gnats...

That's a good point about the molasses,I need to add that to my shopping list. I don't often have that on hand but always have brown sugar or honey.