Small, white worms on lethargic chicken (w/photo), wet feathers under vent

[ekervick]

I have a two-year old buff orpington who has been acting somewhat lethargic for the last few days. I don't think she is eating or drinking much, but that's just a guess because she is not hanging out with the other chickens. She's been looking rather puffed up, and I've noticed wet brown feathers under her vent. I gave her a bath yesterday to rinse off her bottom. Today she has been spending a lot of time in the nesting boxes, and her feathers under her vent appeared dirty and wet again. I decided to give her another bath, fearing that she was egg bound. (Egg bound was just a guess based on her symptoms. I'm a newish chicken keeper, and haven't ever experienced that before) When I bathed her today, lots of short little worms appeared in the bath. I'm including a photo of two of them in my hand. I've done some internet research, and these don't look like any of the typical chicken worm pictures I've seen. Does anyone know what they are, and how to treat? Thank you!

 

[sourland]

sorry for the circumstances. Those are maggots. It sounds as if she may have vent gleet and fly strike. Do an on site search on each of these for help.

 

[ekervick]

Maggots! Okay, that is helpful and disturbing. I will search for info on those and fly strike. Thank you so much.