Need Help! Aftermath of Fly Strike?

[xoxLEESExox]

I have a 1.5 year old Bantam hen that, about 2 weeks ago, would not get up and the other hens were not bothering with her. My husband isolated her but other then not standing, she was alert and ate/drank.

After two day, we realized she had Fly Strike. We have had chickens for 4 years and had never experienced it before. We treated her with warm baths and the blue antibacterial spray (can’t remember what it’s called). She did not have a severe case. By that I mean no large, gapping wounds. The next couple of days she couldn’t eat/drink on her own so we kept her hydrated and after a few days she seemed to have her appetite back. She also started to try lifting herself up.

But she still won’t stand on her own. When we lift her up to check underneath her, her legs are pulled in like normal but her toes are curled. If I gently straighten her leg, her toes will uncurl but as soon as I release her leg, it will pull back in and her toes will curl again.

She also tries to move around using her wings and beak.. especially if she poos and needs cleaning.

At first we thought it was because she was sore underneath but now I’m thinking it may be something else. Would Fly Strike cause some type of palsy? She does move them when you touch ten so she isn’t paralyzed... I’ve read something about a neurological condition (begins with an M.. sorry, typing this on my phone and I’m not savvy enough to multitask!)

Is there something else I should be doing?

Thanks in advance for any info or advise!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Does sound like something else is wrong with her. She's a bit old to show Mareks symptoms but it isn't impossible. I might try her in a sling to see if you can get some mobility or strength back. Could be she got hurt. Is she kept with standard breeds?

 

[xoxLEESExox]

Thank you, Oldhenlikesdogs!

All our hens are the same breed and so far the other girls are fine. I thought that maybe her legs are getting stiff from being on them... she’s starting to get red on her elbows even though I have her on a soft surface.

When I checked on her tonight (I attached a pic showing her toes) I noticed the tips of her comb were getting white. When she first became ill her comb was normal... then it started to loose color on the tips. I started her on electrolyte infused water and yogurt then progressed to eggs and that seemed to perk her up and restore her color. Now it seems to be waning again. Poor girl.

What is the best way to make a sling?

I’m trying to find a vet in my area that knows about chickens but it’s been difficult. I live in an Amish community and the farm vets don’t seem to think that a backyard chicken is worth the effort? Shrug. I’ll do whatever I need to to help her...

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I'll tag someone who knows about slings. @Wyorp Rock Will hopefully help. @Eggcessive is good too.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry to hear about your hen.

Where was the flystrike located? Is the wound healing up and there is no infection?
She is 1 1/2yrs old, does she lay any eggs. I know bantams are not the best layers, but this time of year she should be laying a few (I think). If she hasn't been laying, does she have any bloat/swelling in the abdomen?

The Flystrike could have weakened her and allowed an underlying condition or disease to present. The symptoms you describe does sound like Marek's. But there are other possibilities. I would get her on poultry vitamins that contain B2 (look at Poultry Cell or Rooster Booster vitamins and electrolytes). You can also give her human B-Complex vitamins if you wish. Since she is small I would start with 1/2tablet per day crushed and mixed with her food.

Here's a few sling pictures. There are plenty more if you google "chicken sling" and look at the images.
I hope she gets better soon.
btw-Welcome To BYC, I'm sorry you joined under such sad circumstances.

 

[Birds of a Feather]

I hate to say it, but the symptoms look a lot like Marek's.

 

[xoxLEESExox]

Thank you Wyorp and Birds of a Feather!

She was a good layer up until she got sick. I did feel around her for any lumps, bumps and abnormalities but nothing.

The fly strike was under her vent and up towards her underside. Thankfully that appears to be healing nicely.

I did a LOT of reading through the night and someone had experienced something similar after their chicken had eaten moldy food. We have had a LOT of rain here recently and when I mentioned that to him he said that there had been some mold that he had just dumped (instead of putting it in the trash can).

I’m thinking she may have gotten Fly Strike after her legs gave out because she couldn’t poo standing?

I did make a sling similar to the pictures posted (at midnight...hahaha... because I couldn’t wait until morning!) and to me she seemed more comfortable.

We are going to start her on the vitamins you suggested... thanks again... you really can’t understand how much I appreciate your help/suggestions

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Did you make a third hole for her droppings to drop through? Nice sling btw.

Eating moldy feed can cause some of the symptoms you are seeing, so that is a definite possibility.

 

[xoxLEESExox]

@Wyorp Rock I definitely did make a “poop shoot” (as my husband calls it... and I also put a puppy pee wee pad at the bottom of the basket for easier clean up. It also makes it easier to see its... um... “condition”... LOL! Her poo looked normal so I was encouraged by that.

One thing I did change was using a heavier towel on the sling. Last night I was so anxious to make one that I used a kitchen towel which I realized didn’t give her enough support... so I doubled a bath towel and it seemed to work better for her.

One thing she was doing was putting her toes through the basket... wasn’t sure if that was ok or not (pic attached) so I added a piece of cardboard to block the holes and used an old curtain rod as a sort of perch... thought maybe she wanted to feel her feet on something? Posted a pic put not sure you can see her leg position.

She did try to adjust herself and now she’s positioned like an eagle in flight.. sigh.

On a positive note, the toes on her left foot seemed to have uncurled so I’m still hopeful!

Thanks so much for checking in!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Bless her heart! It looks like she is trying to use her feet. The curtain rod was a good idea, if that seems to not be working, you can try lowering her a bit more so both feet are on the bottom of the basket too. I lot of folks say they have to keep adjusting until they find just the right height.

I'm sure you are doing this, but take her out of the sling several times a day. She may also benefit from her legs being massaged.