Maggots on duck

[Painted Calls]

Yes, that would be nice. Although I appreciate all the suggestions, my main goal is to stop the maggots.



I already posted a pic of that. She sits in the weeds anywhere around that tree. I could take another pic, but I'm not sure what it would show that isn't already known. What is it you want to see?

Is she sitting in a Puddle of her own feces? I can barely see her in the pic you posted. Let alone the area around her.

Yes of course. I've picked maggots out with tweezers and applied ointment to the skin. There is nothing to see now but pink skin, but I can't get a picture because of so many small feathers growing in.

I meant more so when she hasn't got maggots. What does the skin look like leading up to the maggots? Is it dry and normal? Or wet/weeping?

 

[SittinDuck]

Is she sitting in a Puddle of her own feces?

Yes probably. I pick her up and put her back in the pool throughout the day but I can't stand watch over her all day.

I can barely see her in the pic you posted. Let alone the area around her.

Ok I will take another pic.

I meant more so when she hasn't got maggots. What does the skin look like leading up to the maggots? Is it dry and normal? Or wet/weeping?

It neither looks oily nor dry. It looks like healthy skin.

 

[Painted Calls]

If you're going to keep her alive, you're going to need to figure out a way to get her out of her own feces. That's not okay and is absolutely the reason for the maggots. In the mean time, I would make her a sling to get her up and out of her own waste.

I like using a box/tote/drawer. You could also build one from PVC that you can move around. If you search "sling" here on the forum - there are lots of examples and how-to's.

 

[SittinDuck]

See the flies?

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Did you thoroughly look through the affected area for any sign of wound or injury to the skin even something as minor small abrasion, scratch or skin irritation? With Flystrike all maggots have to be physically removed before they are killed otherwise you run a high chance of causing a second bacterial infection if they die while on/attached to the skin. All dead/infected tissue must be removed as well which is why in most cases you will need a vet if it is not topical. Antibiotics are also often part of the treatment because of the risk of bacterial infection. If you are going to keep treating this yourself I would change course a little.
1. Remove ALL maggots with tweezers do not kill or flush off (again huge infection risk)
2. Remove any dead tissue
3. Flush with Iodine instead of salt water
4. Spray with an poultry antibiotic ointment or cover heavily with plain original Neosporin.
5. Wrap if possible.
6. Keep her quarantined and dry. In this case I would recommend a dog crate in your garage with puppy pads that you can clean out 2-3 times a day.
7. Start her on antibiotic to prevent secondary infection. If this is reoccurring there has to be an infection drawing the flies especially if they are continually targeting the same area.

In the meantime I would do a very verythorough cleaning of your outdoor area.

 

[SittinDuck]

In the mean time, I would make her a sling to get her up and out of her own waste.

That's a good idea.

 

[SittinDuck]

Did you thoroughly look through the affected area for any sign of wound or injury to the skin even something as minor small abrasion, scratch or skin irritation?

Yep, I'm convinced the maggots are causing the wound. There is no wound before the maggots come and there is no way for her to be injured.

All the maggots are long gone now, the skin has long since healed and new feathers are growing. The duck is in good health at the moment.

The only reason I started this thread is I just discovered a vet who sees birds so I called and talked to her but she had no idea what is causing recurring maggot infestation so I decided to ask on here.

 

[Painted Calls]

Sitting in her own feces is what is causing it.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

If there is no break in the skin then it would be categorized as Obligatory myiasis most likely caused by Cochliomyia hominivorax which feed off of live tissue. However, I agree with the above if she is sitting in her feces that is what is drawing them especially if she is covered in excrement regularly. The best prevention for myiasis is maintaining a healthy and clean environment for your animals. I'm going to blunt, your duck looks very rough so there definitely has to be some improvements that can be made to her environment.

 

[SittinDuck]

Sitting in her own feces is what is causing it.

Yep. That's where I'm at with it at the moment. She isn't able to clean herself because the pool isn't deep enough and she can't get in the pool because it's above ground. Plus she can't get in the pool at night because she's in the garage sitting in one spot all night.

So her feathers are soiled and attracting flies that cause the maggots that cause the wound. If I remember to periodically put her back in the pool throughout the day then she never gets maggots. But when I figure the problem is resolved and pay less attention to her then the maggots come back.

If she were at the pond she could care for herself better than being up here depending on me. It's another example of me trying to help being the cause of malady.