Maggots in the nest

[AntiqueB]

I have a chicken who lays shell-less eggs. Of course, they break as soon as she lays them. I've tried calcium, but it seems to be a chronic problem.

I have rubber mats in the nest box to catch drips, but the problem now is flies laying eggs in there. Would it be safe to dust permitherin in the nest boxes? They live separately from me, so I don't always see them every day to clean.

Any other ideas?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Since you're not there every day you can't clean the nest every day and you can't give the hen a calcium citrate +D3 tablet every day either. This is what she needs, every day for 5 to 7 days. Do you know which hen is laying these shell-less eggs?

I don't know about the permethrin, I know it's for lice and mites. The most important thing you can do to prevent maggots is to clean that nest out thoroughly every day, including washing the mats and putting in fresh, dry bedding. If you can't do it, do you have anyone who can? I'd worry about maggots getting on and in the hen's vent and doing her serious harm. Have you checked all the hens for flystrike?

 

[FarmerGirl101]

I get this issue a lot in the summer. What I've got now is a rubber mat underneath with a turf square above it. I have multiple sets of turf square so if one needs to be cleaned I can pull it out and put a fresh, clean turf square in its place.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Sorry, yes permethrin is safe for chickens when used as directed. . I don't know if it's effective against flies/ maggots, read the label.