Fly strike & possible rat attack

[GoblinG00P]

Our biggest rooster overheated a few days ago, he's big and active and doesn't stop to care for himself if he feels "at risk" ... We're fighting a big rat problem this summer and he's killed a few himself already, so I assume he's been worried about the rats and not drinking ... Well he decided to sleep on the floor that night instead of roosting with the ladies and I didn't think anything of it, he was fine the next morning after some electrolyte water and treats ...Well today he was limping bad so I pulled him out and checked on him and noticed on the top part of his leg, hidden under his long leg feathers was HORRIBLE flystrike ... I've not experienced it myself but I knew about it and tried to keep them clean ... But the problem is the holes on his leg look like maybe a rat got his leg while he was sleeping ... I don't know, I checked and there was only the tiniest drop of blood in the coop ... his leg works but he limps bad and mostly lays down ... We're treating for flystrike now but I'm not sure what the next step for healing his leg would be ... I'll post pictures in an hour or so. We're still cleaning the maggots out right now

 

[SandyRiverChick]

Can you put him in a cage in a secure place like a cool garage to treat him and let him heal? Get him out of that situation for sure. And can you adopt feral cat's to solve the Rat problem? I had a significant mice/rat problem and I decided to not F around. I put Just ONE BITE underneath my coop where no chickens or other animals except mice/rats could get it. Lot's of rats died. I was slinging their dead bodies over my fence into the woods for a few weeks. And then I got 3 feral cats. All I had to do was provide a shelter for them. I have not had a rat problem for 10years.

 

[GoblinG00P]

I've definitely thought about cats ... Unfortunately I have some smaller chickens right now, I'm worried about the cats going for them too ... When they get bigger definitely finding a cat or 2 to hang out around the coop

 

[SandyRiverChick]

I hear you. It seems cat's don't lose interest in chicks until about 12weeks, especially if you have alot of chicks. I just watched my 12weeker with about 5 chickens behind her, ready to back her up, puff her chest out and challenge one of my cat's. The cat took a swipe at her and ran off quickly. Hope you've got the little's protected from rats though! Yuk. If you're not opposed to poison, you can put a big dent in the population while waiting until you feel it's time for cats... Hope your rooster is okay!!

 

[GoblinG00P]

The little ones are close but separate, they're in the nice coop so thankfully no rats in there so far ... The big chickens have a less nice coop that desperately needs an upgrade... I figured rats wouldn't be a danger to them since they're so big

 

[Wyorp Rock]

How is he doing?
Were you able to get photos?

 

[GoblinG00P]

I got the photos, I completely forgot to post them last night ... But he's doing so much better today ... I have him on our back porch, in a small dog crate at night, but during the day I've been keeping it open, he seems to like it, maybe he feels safe idk ... The picture of him in the cage was today after cleaning the wound again

 

[GoblinG00P]

I had to cut off alot of feathers around his leg, and rinse out hundreds of maggots, mostly tiny ones but not a small amount of very large maggots as well ... He has full movement of his leg and only seems to be in pain when he puts weight on it.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Poor guy!
Is there a bad odor or sign of infection?
If so, I'd swab with Chlorhexidine, let that dry, then apply a very thin layer of triple antibiotic ointment on the leg. If that doesn't take care of it, then I'd consider an oral antibiotic. Amoxicillin or Baytril would be good choices.