Maggots in poop

[Bejep714]

I was cleaning our chicken coop today up where they roost at night and I saw some white maggots in some poop up there. I dont know if they came out of the poop if that's even possible or eggs were layed there, but in a few spots they were in poop. I hadn't cleaned the coop in a week which was my fault, but it seemed like not much poop was where they roost and I didnt have much time so I assumed it was ok. Should I check my chickens? And would I check on their backside? They all are acting normal, but I know fly strike can happen quickly. One of my chickens butts is basically bare because it's almost always messy but just looking at it it doesnt seem like it's in trouble, but I'm not sure. I cleaned the coop and sprayed some elector PSP on it too. Is there anything else I could do?

 

[NatJ]

I think the maggots are probably from eggs laid by flies in the poop, after the poop was already on the floor of the coop. But I would check each of your chickens' butts just to make sure. Checking butts is usually pretty easy, and that can reassure you that there is no problem (or let you catch a problem before it gets worse.)

You may be able to check their butts by just sitting there and watching for a few minutes.

Or you can pick up each chicken to let you get a good look. That is typically easiest after dark. Wear a head lamp, or have someone hold a flashlight, and you grab each chicken off the roost one at a time for a check.
If you have no headlamp and no helper, grab one chicken, carry her to a place with light, check her, carry her back, grab the next one... (Headlamp or helper is much easier. Or you can learn to juggle chicken and flashlight, but that may be easier said than done.)