Skin opening below vent on two year-old Bantum Cochin not feeling well

[Fontaine]

I will enclose picture. Daphne has been extra quiet for about a week . Has still moving around with the flock most of the time. The past day or two she prefers to be by herself. Her diet is Purina all flock 18% protein with oyster shells available. healthy treats only I think she’s been laying up until now regularly but hard to tell as I have three bantum Cochins. Flax was wormed with Valbazen months ago. Pooping normal except seems more of the white urine.? on her feathers. Her main symptom for at least two weeks has been loss of feathers around her butt. And that area, more red than normal and swollen. I thought possibly water belly an attempted to drain her last week and again today with no results. Today for the first time, I noticed this Hole below her vent. I swabbed it with a Q-tip and it’s fairly dry. She’s acting quiet. There was no chance that this could be pecking or boredom. My flock of 13 get along for the most part and basically free range much of the time. She’s never in a crowded situation. I try to keep up, checking bottoms for poop worried about fly strike. I just don’t see how this could be a hygiene issue but anything is possible. I guess if anyone has ideas what this could be I would sure appreciate it. She’s such a darling sweet girl.

 

[CascadiaRiver]

My guess is injury, others will be able to chime in with better help for cleaning and forward care, but you're positive there's nothing inside like the start of fly strike? It's the season and that looks like the perfect spot for it to start

 

[Fontaine]

My guess is injury, others will be able to chime in with better help for cleaning and forward care, but you're positive there's nothing inside like the start of fly strike? It's the season and that looks like the perfect spot for it to start

Well, I washed the area with soap and water, and I took a Q-tip and swabbed around inside. There wasn’t any residue. I also forgot to mention that I had thoroughly checked for mites and lice. Thank you for response!

Catsportpony,Wyorp Rock, and Azygous have helped in the past and seems so knowledgeable. I’m not sure if I can contact specifically them or how I would do it?

 

[Eggcessive]

This is a common place for flystrike, where maggots/fly larvae infest a wound or soiled area below the vent. Look closely for moving maggots. Is her lower belly firm? I would use some disinfectant such as chlorhexidene/Hibiclens or Betadine on the wound, and apply plain Neosporin twice a day. If any maggots are seen, repeat a warm soak 2-3 times today to kill them all. I would soak her once a day just to clean her off.

 

[Eggcessive]

Here is a good link about flystrike:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/flystrike-in-backyard-chickens-causes/

Here is a video of flystrike in a hen’s vent, and fast forward until 4:40 to see what it looks like:

 

[Fontaine]

This is a common place for flystrike, where maggots/fly larvae infest a wound or soiled area below the vent. Look closely for moving maggots. Is her lower belly firm? I would use some disinfectant such as chlorhexidene/Hibiclens or Betadine on the wound, and apply plain Neosporin twice a day. If any maggots are seen, repeat a warm soak 2-3 times today to kill them all. I would soak her once a day just to clean her o

 

[Fontaine]

you were right! I took her out in the sun and really took a closer look in my best reading glasses. I did see movement. I haven’t read yet The details about fire strike but will as soon as I’m finished here. I took a soapy syringe and kept irrigating the area, removing some of the maggots I kept sweeping around with a Q-tip and got more . finally I couldn’t see anymore, but I’m sure they’re there. Her lower belly is red and kind of firm. She really doesn’t feel well. I’m going to follow your instructions and also look at that video on fly strike. I’m hoping this is something that can be cured. Thanks so much for the input.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would repeat a warm soak to her vent again in a little while. Epsom salts or a little Dawn do well. Maggots can hatch out for more than 24 hours. I would do a third soak tonight or a little later. When there is a hole, the maggots can get inside the body. Permethrin spray or a horse product call SWAT applied to the area can kill maggots on contact. Hopefully, you have caught this in time to help save her. Let us know how she does.

 

[Fontaine]

My guess is injury, others will be able to chime in with better help for cleaning and forward care, but you're positive there's nothing inside like the start of fly strike? It's the season and that looks like the perfect spot for it to start

Yes, as it turns out, it was fly strike. I got a closer look and now I will start treatment thanks.

 

[Fontaine]

I would repeat a warm soak to her vent again in a little while. Epsom salts or a little Dawn do well. Maggots can hatch out for more than 24 hours. I would do a third soak tonight or a little later. When there is a hole, the maggots can get inside the body. Permethrin spray or a horse product call SWAT applied to the area can kill maggots on contact. Hopefully, you have caught this in time to help save her. Let us know how she does.

I have a bottle of PERMETHRIN 10% concentrate. I don’t know if this would injure her tissues inside, but I was wondering if I could dilute it and use it in the irrigation of the wound inside to kill the maggots remaining.If not advised how would I dilute this and make a spray for the exterior wound ?.thank you.