- Jan 13, 2008
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Floppy is a 2-year-old Buff Orpington, overweight and prone to problems. One of a flock of three hens, all together since hatch.
Lately she has been mostly sitting down, not eating constantly as she normally does, and generally lethargic. Sleeping in the nest box.
Last night I noticed she smelled bad.
THE MAGGOTS: Looked today and her backside was covered in poop ranging from slimy to crusted. Around her vent were literally hundreds of maggots swarming. They were 1/8 to 1/4 inch long, mostly white but a fraction seemingly red with blood inside; dark tip on one end. As far as I can determine they are fly larvae. Easily the grossest thing I have ever seen.
HOW I TREATED HER: I cleaned her with soapy water and soaked her in a warm bath for 20 minutes (as long as she or I could stand). Cleaned her with towels a bit more to pretty clean, dried her and isolated her in a cage under a heat lamp. (Also put a heating pad under her, just in case part of the problem is being eggbound--thought she laid an egg the other day but it's possible she hasn't laid for a month, as I was out of town.) Her backside is swollen, red, and tender, with a lot of feathers lost but no wound that I can see. It really seems to me that she couldn't clean her rear (a perennial problem), and the flies just came and
WHAT SHOULD I DO?
I've read through different posts on the forum and they all recommend different things. Internal wormer? Insecticide dust? Antibiotics? (And if any kind of medication, please recommend what kind and how much.) If it is truly just a buildup of poop in which flies laid their larvae, should I just keep her isolated until she recovers and then put her back in the flock?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Lisa
Lately she has been mostly sitting down, not eating constantly as she normally does, and generally lethargic. Sleeping in the nest box.
Last night I noticed she smelled bad.
THE MAGGOTS: Looked today and her backside was covered in poop ranging from slimy to crusted. Around her vent were literally hundreds of maggots swarming. They were 1/8 to 1/4 inch long, mostly white but a fraction seemingly red with blood inside; dark tip on one end. As far as I can determine they are fly larvae. Easily the grossest thing I have ever seen.
HOW I TREATED HER: I cleaned her with soapy water and soaked her in a warm bath for 20 minutes (as long as she or I could stand). Cleaned her with towels a bit more to pretty clean, dried her and isolated her in a cage under a heat lamp. (Also put a heating pad under her, just in case part of the problem is being eggbound--thought she laid an egg the other day but it's possible she hasn't laid for a month, as I was out of town.) Her backside is swollen, red, and tender, with a lot of feathers lost but no wound that I can see. It really seems to me that she couldn't clean her rear (a perennial problem), and the flies just came and
WHAT SHOULD I DO?
I've read through different posts on the forum and they all recommend different things. Internal wormer? Insecticide dust? Antibiotics? (And if any kind of medication, please recommend what kind and how much.) If it is truly just a buildup of poop in which flies laid their larvae, should I just keep her isolated until she recovers and then put her back in the flock?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Lisa