Worms/maggots on vent -- contagious? HELP!

[millerchickens]

Hi all.
We just put one of our nine chickens down about half hour ago. I had been watching her for the past week -- I think she may have been egg bound. But on Sunday night her breastbone protruded and she stopped eating and drinking. Tried the warm water bath, warm secluded area, massaging with olive oil (not inside the vent). Today was having hubby help me check her again and her entire vent area was crawling with I don't know what. Thousands of crawlies. Definitely saw a few small worms about the length of my pinky nail, but the majority were much smaller. I think maggots are white? These were definitely silver/black and all over her vent area. We put her down immediately.

My concern is that we have eight other chickens who share the same area. None appear sick. What should I do? Tomorrow first thing I'll clean the coop and lay fresh everything...but beyond that, I have no idea.

Any advice MUCH appreciated! All of these hens are about 2 years old.

Thanks!
Stacey

 

[Chick Charm]

When was the last time you wormed em Stacey? Could she have been infested with parasites?

Phil

 

[millerchickens]

Thanks for the response, Phil.

We have never wormed our hens. Could that have been it?

Stacey

 

[pawprint2104]

No, it wasn't worms, it was maggots. It's not contagious. You didn't have to put her down. You just needed to remove the maggots and provide aftercare. I'm not sure how to insert a link, but here's the url regarding my event. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/777852/maggots-on-my-chicken

It sounds like "fly strike".

My girl is healing nicely and back with her flock.

There are many more useful threads about this here on BYC.

 

[chkn]

I keep a jar of SWAT from the feedstore for the flystrike. You blob it on over the wound (don't worry how bad it looks, the chicken will most likely recover). I had a rooster like that and I did the SWAT. The second application was just to be sure but it gets rid of them. It suffocates them. In a pinch you could probably use some neosporine. My rooster had a hole in his butt with the maggots crawling in and out. His tail never grew back completely but the wound healed just fine. It happens all the time. This board was full of it last year.

 

[millerchickens]

Thanks pawprint and chkn... even though we've had our chickens for two years, we are such newbies and have good luck with really healthy hens.

After I realized that we *should not* have put her down (sigh), I read a ton on here about fly strike. I was also reading a fair amount on worms and I'm certain she also had worms (runny yellow poop, if I read correctly, is a sure sign). She had that going on for over a week. The thing I still can't figure out is why her breastbone was so profound. When I picked her up on Monday, it was like something in her body had gone awry because instead of her soft chest I felt the bone. Like it had popped out of place or something...

Should I now worm my flock? I'll check the archives here, too.

Stacey

 

[Chick Charm]

I would suggest worming since it has never been done before and given what happened to the your hen.

Preventative measures can include DE mixed with the feed and Garlic. However, preventative measures do not work once they have the worms. Valbezan wormer for sheep or dogs is most effective for all the worm parasites. Its a bit expensive. One indicator (breast bone protruding) and weight loss is usually an indicator. Though I do think the flies got to her from what it sounds like.

Having the fly guard on hand will be helpful in the future.

Best of wishes to ya.

 

[millerchickens]

Thanks all!

Stacey