Sick hen - now maggots in her poop! Anything that can be done?

[bawkbawkbawk]

We have a RIR that I believe is near death. She has been failing for some time, stopped eating some days ago.

I just went into the coop to clean up around her and found what I think are maggots in her poop! Small, white, roundish. I have never seen anything like this with any of my other hens.

Two questions:

1) Is it possible that she can be treated in some way? I just assumed she is dying of an internal laying problem or cancer but is it possible it's something else? It's the weekend so I can't get any medication - is there any emergency treatment?

2) Should I worry about the rest of the flock having seen these maggots? They all seem fine and healthy. She's been declining a long time so I think if it were a parasitic ailment I would be seeing signs of it with the others.

Thank you for any advice.

 

[FluffyBottomBantams]

Check her rear end. If those are actually maggots then they aren’t inside her, they are outside and eating her alive, this is called flystrike. They also could be worms instead that she is pooping out. Pics maybe? Try to get some water in her, a syringe slowly squirted in the corner of her beak should work.

 

[restinpeacenyla]

are you SURE they are maggots? or are they worms? have you wormed your chickens? you can find some dewormers online but you must find out which type of worm it is! worm her anyways (and the rest of the flock). you should be worming them regularly.

 

[FluffyBottomBantams]

Best of luck for a speedy recovery for your little hen

 

[HollyWoozle]

As others have said, pics of the poop would really help. Wishing your girl all the best.

 

[bawkbawkbawk]

I rinsed her off, so much poop on her bottom. She has had a poopy back end for some time, actually.

When I put her back in the coop one of the maggots (?) fell from her. Attached a photo - hard to see since it's about the same color as the pine shavings.. It's sort of at left center.

Is there anything I can do for her??

Thank you!

 

[Chickenlover0810]

as a precaution i would treat her for worms, we use liquid Safeguard goat dewormer 5mls in one gallon. best of luck

 

[FluffyBottomBantams]

That is a maggot and she has fly strike. Is her vent area clean enough to search for any wounds ? Research flystrike, it’s extremely lethal for a chicken, but a fairly straight forward treatment.

 

[bawkbawkbawk]

I gave her a saltwater bath after seeing it as a treatment on a thread here. Didn’t see any more maggots after that. Syringed her with sugar water all through the eveni. Got into the vet first thing this morning.

Vet said her abdomen was so filled with fluid from either cancer or internal laying that the pressure had actually broken through and created a wound next to her vent, hence the fly strike.

The vet offered to drain the fluid and try to address the cause but she was honest about it and said there would not likely be a good outcome. We opted to euthanize the hen. She was really suffering. I didn’t even like that bird very much but I still cried.

Thanks to all who replied. I have never seen a maggot on a hen before and hope I never do again.

 

[FluffyBottomBantams]

Yeah that sounds like ascites (fluid buildup from a failing organ, such as the heart or kidneys) flystrike often happens from it because like you said it comes to the surface and once it pops it attracts flies, ascites has no treatment, you can only prolong the inevitable, so I think you made the right decision in putting her out of her misery early on. I suggest looking at the rest of your birds and making sure none of the others have it either.
My condolences