Maggots in vent

[LesGan]

Maggots in vent of 2 year old black sex link. Hard molt in Feb/Mar and has not laid since then. Checked her last month and could not feel any internal eggs. 3 days ago found smelly liquid poop and now realize it is hers. Yesterday and today slow moving and not readily coming out of coup. Had time today so got her and turned her over and matted feathers around vent and could see maggots moving just inside. Vent very relaxed, very moist and loosely open.....dark in color but don't know if that is normal color. Bad odor. What do I do for her? Bath her bottom part, clip feathers, clean off poop, remove visible maggots. Is there a chance they are up inside and how do I care for that? Flush with what solution....like douche?

 

[CoopCrazy]

I would defintly give her a noce warm bottom soak.. If you ahve any Blukote I would spray her very well with it and keep her ina dark warm place for atleast a few days... Sounds as though she may have broken an egg inside her... You need to try to get that out with the soaks and maybe possibly have to manually remove any peices still inside her.. The good thing with maggots is if there is a cut or injury they will have cleaned it out well.. now ou just need to get rid of them and get her healthy...

 

[al6517]

She has worms and must be treated ASAP with some of the many good wormers out there like Wazine, give her a loading dose then do a good follow up dose 2 wks later, then she will regain her vigor and feather health and start to lay again. If you fail to jump on this you run the risk of losing her. The Wazine is givin in their drinking water as your other birds most likely also have worms, treat your whole flock.

AL

 

[LesGan]

Thank you for your responses. Do I need to isolate her from the others? She had taken to sleeping in the nesting box at night. I change hay regularly and have seen no "creatures" in the hay. I had been told on this forum that sex links don't lay for long and she could just be finished.....that is why I had not been so concerned....until now. Thanks.

 

[CoopCrazy]

Quote:
I would take her and put her in a dark warm place, less stress on her and will stop her form trying to produce more eggs,...

 

[LesGan]

She has not laid an egg in about 3-4 months. Had hard molt and then no laying.....folks said sex links very short layers often.

 

[LesGan]

CoopCrazy thank you so much for your help. Ellie Mae did not survive. I am not sure what happened with her, but I am afraid I might have broken her neck by accident. I was sitting with her on my lap with her on her side clipping poopie feathers from around her bottom, she struggled to get up, I tightened my hold around her wings and I heard a slight click noise, she struggled some more and when I stood up with her her head drooped over and she was gone. The one thing I had told a friend was that if I had to put her down I wanted to be holding her.......and I got my wish. I did take the opportunity to check her before I buried her and she had a gaping wound beside her vent which was the source of the maggots. She had no eggs inside so I guess she was just finished laying. My first chicken loss, I am very sad of course and the other chickens are looking for her. I DO understand and accept that this is a part of being a caretaker for our beloved creatures.....I just wasn't ready for her to go yet.

 

[CoopCrazy]

Quote:

Im sorry .. I wish we could saved her.... Sometimes there just isnt anything we can do...

 

[dntd]

This is so sad, atleast she whent painlessly and even more so without you having to do choose.