I found this site shortly after getting chickens and spent SO many hours reading all sorts of threads. Luckily I read all the really gross ones too, it gave me a heads up on what I had gotten myself into! I just can't find an answer to my latest dilemma.
More than a week ago (I knew I should've taken note, but...) I found a hen still on the roost mid-day and quickly discovered my worst fear, maggots! After getting her and the first aid bag into the bathroom I followed some wonderful advice of flushing the heck out of the wound. I used a huge syringe with peroxide and water. I don't think peroxide was recommended but I was in maggot panic mode. I checked to see how deep the wound might be, or if it had perforated her vent, and flushed some more. I did NOT want to find more maggots the next day. It didn't seem too deep, maybe golf ball sized so I put ointment on and put her into dog crate recovery room. Next day, no maggots, hallelujah! I figured it'd be a easy wound care from here on out. Every day or two I checked and reapplied ointment, even pulled the scab off a couple of times because it was dirty. She ate and drank fine, and even laid five eggs. The wound is smaller than a dime now, but the area is very swollen, like there's a mass in there. Feeling around the area I found she has a tender spot near her vent. And yesterday she almost, but didn't, pass a soft shelled egg. Now she hardly eats or drinks and is trying very hard to pass small amounts of eggy goo and some greenish poo. What do I do now? Could maggots be inside of her healing wound? I read they couldn't survive without air, but... In the beginning I carefully felt the lumpy spot, even in her vent, trying to feel squirming to no avail. And now she has broken egg inside? What do I do now?
More than a week ago (I knew I should've taken note, but...) I found a hen still on the roost mid-day and quickly discovered my worst fear, maggots! After getting her and the first aid bag into the bathroom I followed some wonderful advice of flushing the heck out of the wound. I used a huge syringe with peroxide and water. I don't think peroxide was recommended but I was in maggot panic mode. I checked to see how deep the wound might be, or if it had perforated her vent, and flushed some more. I did NOT want to find more maggots the next day. It didn't seem too deep, maybe golf ball sized so I put ointment on and put her into dog crate recovery room. Next day, no maggots, hallelujah! I figured it'd be a easy wound care from here on out. Every day or two I checked and reapplied ointment, even pulled the scab off a couple of times because it was dirty. She ate and drank fine, and even laid five eggs. The wound is smaller than a dime now, but the area is very swollen, like there's a mass in there. Feeling around the area I found she has a tender spot near her vent. And yesterday she almost, but didn't, pass a soft shelled egg. Now she hardly eats or drinks and is trying very hard to pass small amounts of eggy goo and some greenish poo. What do I do now? Could maggots be inside of her healing wound? I read they couldn't survive without air, but... In the beginning I carefully felt the lumpy spot, even in her vent, trying to feel squirming to no avail. And now she has broken egg inside? What do I do now?
I think it was the next day I just threw up my hands and decided maybe some exercise outdoors could be beneficial since she had been inside so long. Or at least she could enjoy it and her flock a little before she passed. I brought her back inside that night, but the following she decided to go into the coop so I let her be. The swollen area doesn't seem to be going down, but her poo is more of a normal texture, though still very bright green. She is trying to get back into pecking order, and walking better. I'll have to keep a close eye on that tiny wound, I'm worried the flies will find it! If she makes it I really should name her!
