Chicharron
In the Brooder
- Jun 14, 2023
- 24
- 19
- 44
I have a pullet that was born with some kind of leg deformity that causes her to be unable to use one of her legs. Because of this, she spends most of her time lying in one spot (she can get around if she wants though), which causes her to get poop stuck on her backside.
Usually the poop comes off on its own, or I cut it out of her feathers if need be. But this time I think the flies found the poop before I could clean her. About four days ago I found her lying in the coop, alert but not moving. Upon inspection I found about a dime size wound on her rump filled with disgusting maggots.
I immediately brought her in and soaked her in a warm soapy epsom salt bath. Picked off as many maggots as I could find with tweezers, then dried her off good and put her in a crate inside. At this point she still had a good appetite, was eating and drinking lots.
The next day I checked again, and now there was even more maggots of all sizes. I found a lot of them in the skin folds of her thighs and some along her back. I repeated the same process as the day before and put a little Ivermectin in her water just in case it might help.
Yesterday she still seemed in decent spirits, good appetite. Fed her hard boiled egg which she devoured. Would respond by chirping if I called her name.
Today I check again, MORE maggots! Which have created more little sores around her rump. I repeated the bath yet again. Also gave half a tablet of Capstar b/c I read it kills maggots. By now she is literally skin and bones despite having eaten a ton. As of now she has stopped eating and lays there with her eyes closed.
I don't understand why the baths and treatment aren't working, and why she is so skinny. I've seen pictures of chickens with terrible wounds from flystrike and the sores she has are much smaller. I've combed through all her feathers until I see no more maggots, but the next day there are more, despite being kept indoors where there are no flies. This has been going on for nearly five days now. There are no chicken vets near me either.
Is there any hope of her recovering from this or should I cull? I've never culled a chicken before and would rather not, but will if there's no chance of improvement.
Usually the poop comes off on its own, or I cut it out of her feathers if need be. But this time I think the flies found the poop before I could clean her. About four days ago I found her lying in the coop, alert but not moving. Upon inspection I found about a dime size wound on her rump filled with disgusting maggots.
I immediately brought her in and soaked her in a warm soapy epsom salt bath. Picked off as many maggots as I could find with tweezers, then dried her off good and put her in a crate inside. At this point she still had a good appetite, was eating and drinking lots.
The next day I checked again, and now there was even more maggots of all sizes. I found a lot of them in the skin folds of her thighs and some along her back. I repeated the same process as the day before and put a little Ivermectin in her water just in case it might help.
Yesterday she still seemed in decent spirits, good appetite. Fed her hard boiled egg which she devoured. Would respond by chirping if I called her name.
Today I check again, MORE maggots! Which have created more little sores around her rump. I repeated the bath yet again. Also gave half a tablet of Capstar b/c I read it kills maggots. By now she is literally skin and bones despite having eaten a ton. As of now she has stopped eating and lays there with her eyes closed.
I don't understand why the baths and treatment aren't working, and why she is so skinny. I've seen pictures of chickens with terrible wounds from flystrike and the sores she has are much smaller. I've combed through all her feathers until I see no more maggots, but the next day there are more, despite being kept indoors where there are no flies. This has been going on for nearly five days now. There are no chicken vets near me either.
Is there any hope of her recovering from this or should I cull? I've never culled a chicken before and would rather not, but will if there's no chance of improvement.
