Please help diagnose

[Shari777]

I don’t know what’s wrong with my hen. She’s about 6.5 years old. She’s had a messy bottom for a week or two. This has happened to my hens in the past and always sorts itself out, so I didn’t think anything of it. Then, about two days ago I noticed there weren’t really any feathers on it. As I looked closer, I saw this big abscess looking thing with worms crawling on it. So, immediately I got her washed up and spent about an hour picking as many worms from it as I could - they were embedded right below the abscess. I then took a handful of diatomaceous earth and patted her backside with it hoping it would kill any remaining. The next morning, her backside looked a little caked presumably from the DE, but I didn’t see one worm. I was then concerned that they were trapped behind the caked DE. As I was looking for what this bulge could be, I saw videos on flystrike, which I was unaware of. I also saw videos on egg bound chickens and water belly. She does seem to have a bigger belly so I started getting concerned she has one of those. Since her belly is more firm and not squishy, I thought maybe she is eggbound. So I’ve been giving her an epsom salt bath once a day. I also gave her a crushed 600 mg tablet of calcium today. I felt around inside and don’t feel any obvious egg - though I don’t have any experience in this. I have 4 hens and I can’t tell who lays an egg and who doesn’t. So, the question is, what is this abscess like bulge and what should I do about it? Lance it? Antibiotics? Both? Also, can an infection cause a larger belly? Please give me some advice. Inserted is the picture:

 

[nuthatched]

I'm afraid there's not much you might be able to do with so many issues, at 6.5 years old, she might not bounce back if you manage to treat it. De really wont help at this point, she's probably not laying or producing eggs since egg bind kills in days.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...es-prevention-treatment-and-my-journey.76876/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-tale-of-two-prolapsed-vents.74480/

Just so you have the info but good luck.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...re-culling-the-injured-and-sick-babies.72140/

 

[Shari777]

I'm afraid there's not much you might be able to do with so many issues, at 6.5 years old, she might not bounce back if you manage to treat it. De really wont help at this point, she's probably not laying or producing eggs since egg bind kills in days.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...es-prevention-treatment-and-my-journey.76876/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-tale-of-two-prolapsed-vents.74480/

Just so you have the info but good luck.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...re-culling-the-injured-and-sick-babies.72140/

Right. But I’m not certain she is egg bound…

 

[nuthatched]

Right. But I’m not certain she is egg bound…

Neither do I, but just in case. Looks like a prolapse and flystrike

 

[Swbertrand1]

Pretty sure you're dealing with Flystrike, but I'm going to tag some folks that have far more experience than I:

@Wyorp Rock @azygous @aart @Eggcessive

 

[Weeg]

@Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock @azygous
The above members will be able to help you.
Do you have her in teh coop with the other chickens? If so, you need to separate her and bring her into the house away from flies. The "abscess", does it look like it could be a prolapsed vent? Can you get better photos of that please?
At 6 and a half years it could be harder for her to bounce back, but absolutely no reason to give up on her. Great job making this post, hopefully we can get your hen on the road to recovery soon.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would agree with @Swbertrand1 that it appears to be flystrike. The layer of skin over her lower belly has been eaten away by maggot larvae, probably laid by flies on her poopy vent and below. You could try soaking her bottom in warm Epsom salts and applying plain Neosporin ointment twice a day to help heal her, but there is no guarantee that the skin will grow back.

 

[Eggcessive]

Here is a thread that is similar about recent flystrike:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/severe-flystrike-urgent.1486852/

 

[kathy32]

I am so sorry you are dealing with this. I experienced it for the first time earlier this summer and got helpful advice on here. Your chicken looks a lot like mine did. Here is my post:

Thread 'Flystrike - please help' https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/flystrike-please-help.1482008/

It looks like that abcess is below the vent? If that is the case I suspect the maggots have eaten through and that is the lining of the abdominal cavity. Definitely do not lance it. If you can and/or are inclined to see a vet, they might be able to help. Otherwise keep bathing and check for maggots religiously - hidden eggs will continue to hatch so be ready to bathe & remove maggots many times over the next few days.
Best of luck to you, flystrike is really awful!

 

[Shari777]

Neither do I, but just in case. Looks like a prolapse and flystrike

Thank you again for your response. It was definitely flystrike, but that bulge is quite a bit below her vent, so I’m pretty sure it’s not a prolapsed vent. Looks like an abscess to me. But not sure what I should do about it if it is. But of course the first concern is her belly and whether or not she is eggbound. Still giving her epsom salt baths. Thanks again.