Silkie chicken wound w maggots

[liz9910]

Welcome to BYC! I would post in this thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/10/emergencies-diseases-injuries-and-cures good luck to you.

 

[Dartanion]

Ok,if she is still that way,separate her and keep it clean.Then feed her bread and oatmeal with her food.Also put Vaseline on the wound and around her vent.That should fix it,hope it helps and she gets better.

 

[jpefein]

Thank you all for the welcomes and advice. I will keep you posted. This am she did actually drink and ate some layer mash. She turned away from the eggs, or yogurt. But she ate! She seems a bit more perky but her clucks are so soft it saddens me. She is a sweet sweet lady and it would kill me to loose her. Thank you again for the advice

 

[jpefein]

Update.... She seems to be getting stronger. But still fairly weak. This morning I picked her up and decided to take her outside for two minutes and show her to the other three silkies...who have not layer eggs for 7 days now since I removers her from the flock. I won't keep her outside alone since she still has an open wound and flys and germs etc. nor could she run or defend herself. But I sat down on the grass with her and her best friend ran over to her. They clucked at each other and then her friend payed down at her feet and rolled onto her side and sat there with her. Then the other two came over. I let her peck at the grass and stay for two minutes. Then I brought her back inside. I can't believe how sweet the reunion was. I will take her out a few minutes everyday. I think she will heal better with the love of the girls and maybe they will even start laying again! I think we are through the woods with the worst of it. I still worry there are maggots deep within her although there are non at her would area. Yes I am a worrier but after all this it would kill me if something more happened.

 

[TOP KNOT]

I am so happy she is doing better!! On a good note maggots only eat dead flesh not live flesh. By chance that there is 1 in her it won't eat her. Strangely it could help her remove dead flesh. I would just keep doing what you are doing and keep a close eye out for changes. It sounds like she is in good hands.

 

[Chickery Chick]

It appears that you ran in to almost exactly the same issue I did a few weeks ago.
Go to my thread I started on Fly-Strike, which is what you chicken got.
I took pictures and posted.
Some of the comments were very helpful.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/809129/wound-care-help-please
ps. she is still doing well and loves dog food.
I read that a chicken that has a wound such as this needs more protein and my dog food is 26% protein. Whole meat dog food.
You need quality dog food. Go buy a small bag of Taste of the Wild at your local Tractor Supply or Orchelins. It has 32% protein, whole meat, not by product. It also has grains and biotin, everything that would be good for your chicken for healing and staying healthy. She also likes bread but it is just a snack. She needs the protein. She wont touch her chicken food.

Also while your at Tractor supply or Orcheleins, get a $5 bag of Duramycin-10, tetracycline Hydrochloride Soluble Powder. Or just ask one of the worker there to get you Tetracycline. Then with an empty 1/2 gal milk jug, fill 1/2 way up and put 1/4 of this powder in it. Shake it up and poor in her dish. It turns pink after awhile but ok. I found that she likes to have me put the dish next to her and she drinks from it and same with the dog food/bread. She doesn't want to leave her perch. lol
She must not go outside where flies are. The maggots can hatch in just 12 hours. Plus the other chickens will likely peck at her wound and it is dirty outside. Dirt will stick to wound.

I'm not sure why you are still getting maggots. I got a massive amount of maggots out in 2, 20min soaks in Epsom salt(go light on Epsom) not good for later use, just the 1st clean outs. Make sure the wound is submerged the whole 20min in mild/warm water, rub the wound and work out the maggots. Use a very very soft cloth so you dont rub her wound raw.

I'm putting triple antibiotic cream on and Veterycin spray.
You'll find the thread very interesting on all the details.

I hope to be able to take new photos and post them soon.