Please help freaking out over larvae in chicken anything helps

Celeste Cannon

Songster
5 Years
Jan 15, 2018
445
581
211
Los Angeles, California
When I was checking on my chicken this morning who has possible meriks and is super weak right now I saw that she was absolutely infested with tiny larva. I’m guessing they are flys they have not been leaving her alone she is staying outside. I bathed her the other day, probably two days ago and I saw none. These guys should be no more than two days old. I bathed at least 2/3 of them off right now and cut a bunch of her feathers so I could access them. How do I get rid of them? It looks like they burrowed in cuts of hers. She’s weak right now so I don’t know if I should spray her with Pyrethrin spray that I have. I’m soaking her in warm water right now so she doesn’t get cold and so they hopefully won’t spread as fast. Should I put anything in the water? I’ll attach pics. I’m so worried any response will help I feel so horrible for not noticing sooner
 

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Those are maggots, they need to be gotten rid of asap. Maggots can do a lot of damage.
You can add a bit of mild dish soap to the bath water.
Clean off all that poop that's in her feathers too.
She has cuts? Get some more photos once you clean her up really well.

If you suspect she's got Marek's and has not been well for a while, then it would be a good idea if you keep her inside where flies can't get on her and you can give her specialized care.
Sadly, some birds don't recover or decline further so quality of life needs to be considered.
 
Yes that would be flystrike. Use permethrin ir pyrethrins that you have. Swat Gel or permethrin spray are good ones to use. That should kill them right away. Epsom salts or dish soap, and a little betadine in the water are fine. Maggot larvae will continue to hatch out for the next 24 hours or so, so the baths may need to be repeated a few times. Get a magnifying glass and tweezers ro try to get every one off her.
 
Thank you so much everyone, it looks like I’ve gotten all of them off. Here are some more pictures. I feel so horrible that this happened, she looked nothing like this two days ago. I bathed her really well too.
 

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Put it on the wound. Good job. Keep checking the area often, since more may hatch. This is a sad thing that does happen with birds who have stuck on droppings or a wound around the vent during hot summer weather. Flies are opportunists. Here is a good article that may have more advice on treatment:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/flystrike-in-backyard-chickens-causes/
 
Read the label. If using a concentrate, yes it would need to be diluted, but if using ready to use spray or ointment, it should be used directly. SWAT ointment or gel is a horse product of pyrethrins and it is used full strength.
 

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