What killed my girl?

[Conan]

Here is really excellent thread on fly strike with loads of information.
I know it's too late for KeeLee, but it might prove helpful in the future.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/topic-of-the-week-fly-strike.1185063/

 

[chickendreams24]

I'm sorry it sounds like it was fly strike to me as well.

Maggots tend to start out much smaller than 1/2 inch although I don't know about all species. I'm sure there are a wide variety of maggots sizes and incubation times for fly eggs.

It has been very wet locally for us although I don't know where you are located. That increases the chance for fly strike.

For those that said maggots only eat dead or dying tissue that is sadly incorrect. They will also lay eggs in moist areas as well as feces in feathers or hair and in wounds or injuries.

I believe your girl had fly strike. I would immediately do a very thorough search of all of your birds to check for any other possible infestations. Treating accordingly.

We have never personally had this problem but it is a fear of mine. Fly strike can also effect sheep and cattle and probably also goats and swine I would think.

Hot or humid weather also increases the chance. And a dirty bottom of any kind IE broken egg poo urine after birth etc.

While maggots may begin by feasting on feces dead or dying tissue as they run out of food they will eat into healthy tissue causing sores wounds and death. They may also enter the vent of a chicken.

 

[Madison Lorenzen]

The weird thing is that none of the maggots were on, in, or near her vent. They were all on her tummy

 

[roosterhavoc]

The weird thing is that none of the maggots were on, in, or near her vent. They were all on her tummy

Were they burrowed into the bird or just on the outside?
If her stomach was facing down that’s going to be the dampest place. That’s what maggots need.
Chickens rot pretty quickly. There’s a lot of heat inside a chicken.

 

[WVduckchick]

Did you look around for signs that any other kind of predator could have gotten in, killed her and left the body? Or see any other wounds?

 

[Madison Lorenzen]

No other wounds. And her stomach was facing down. I didnt look close enough to see if they were burrowed or not. Some fell off when I first picked her up