Fly strike and necrotic tissue

[ginny_e]

We just discovered fly strike on our loved cochin today. Yesterday was as normal, but today on death's door. We gave her two warm baths, dried her best we could with the hairdryer, picked off as may maggots as possible, flushed the dead skin/ wound with saline and sprayed with vetericyn. I also administered electrolytes as she is not eating (or drinking likely). Vets in this area are backlogged 3-6 mths.

My question is, if we aren't cutting the necrotic tissue off, is she going to likely die from infection? There is a substantial amount of dead tissue (the smell is awful). I did flush it with saline (it is porous probably from the maggots), and sprayed heavily with vetericyn.

We both feel awful for her. She is currently separated from the flock in a dog crate in our basement.

 

[SmiYa0126]

Can you post pictures?

Do you still see maggots? You may need to repeat the baths to suffocate them and pull them off. Keep checking for new maggots from the eggs that the flies have been laying.

I don't know about pulling necrotic flesh off. Does it come loose when you irrigate the wound?

 

[SmiYa0126]

@wyorp @Eggcessive fly strike, can you help?

 

[Pampered chicken girl]

@Wyorp Rock
Poor girl! I hope someone can help you

 

[Dakota8472]

I am always confused by the idea of removing the maggots, I get that they can introduce issues but dont they eat necrotic tissue, and produce anti fungals and antibiotics? or is it assumed that we will do those things in their absence?

 

[SmiYa0126]

I am always confused by the idea of removing the maggots, I get that they can introduce issues but dont they eat necrotic tissue, and produce anti fungals and antibiotics? or is it assumed that we will do those things in their absence?

Maggots are opportunistic. They will eat anything whether it's fresh or dead. In a flystrike, the fly lay eggs on poop near the chicken vent and then the maggots hatch and eat them from the outside in. If you leave the maggots they will kill the chicken.

 

[Dakota8472]

Maggots are opportunistic. They will eat anything whether it's fresh or dead. In a flystrike, the fly lay eggs on poop near the chicken vent and then the maggots hatch and eat them from the outside in. If you leave the maggots they will kill the chicken.

Ty.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

We just discovered fly strike on our loved cochin today. Yesterday was as normal, but today on death's door. We gave her two warm baths, dried her best we could with the hairdryer, picked off as may maggots as possible, flushed the dead skin/ wound with saline and sprayed with vetericyn. I also administered electrolytes as she is not eating (or drinking likely). Vets in this area are backlogged 3-6 mths.

My question is, if we aren't cutting the necrotic tissue off, is she going to likely die from infection? There is a substantial amount of dead tissue (the smell is awful). I did flush it with saline (it is porous probably from the maggots), and sprayed heavily with vetericyn.

We both feel awful for her. She is currently separated from the flock in a dog crate in our basement.

Please post some photos.
Where is the wound located?
I'm not sure about cutting away tissue...
Rinse like you are doing, keep picking off maggots and keep the veterycin or triple antibiotic on the wound.
https://the-chicken-chick.com/flystrike-in-backyard-chickens-causes/

I am always confused by the idea of removing the maggots, I get that they can introduce issues but dont they eat necrotic tissue, and produce anti fungals and antibiotics? or is it assumed that we will do those things in their absence?

You are thinking of medical maggots that are applied and contained in a controlled environment and the maggots are raised in sterile conditions.
Medical maggots are not the same as a backyard maggot - apples and oranges.

 

[ginny_e]

Thanks all for your comments and posts. I did another bath this morning, saline rinse, blow dried and sprayed with vetericyn. The area seems substantially better. Not nearly as many maggots in the bath, and I only picked one off after. I was pretty thorough with my inspection and didn't see any more, though I know they can hide and there are probably more eggs. The wound doesn't look nearly as bad today, much more superficial than I thought. I can see healthy skin below the dead skin and really got into this one area with the rinse and spray that looked the worst. I gave electrolytes again, but she really fights them. So I soaked some pellets w the solution hoping that I would entice her.

She did also have a more normal poop today, a bit watery, but the right colors.

I'll try and get photos later, I don't want to disturb her too much.

I am cautiously optimistic.

 

[ginny_e]

I think she had some poop on her and that is what attracted the flies. She has always been a messy bird with her flooffy feathers. The affected area is below the vent but then towards her right leg. The worst area is between her legs and body, where it probably stays warm and moist normally.