Fly strike in my cockerel

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worthysmum

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I don't actually believe this has happend to my poor bird after he survived a horrible virus. Yesterday I noticed Grayson was very quiet and lethargic, I had been out for the day saturday and left my son to let them out and they were already in bed when I got home. So I dont know if he was ill then. Apart from that he was eating yesterday and just "off". This morning he didnt come out the coop so I went into see where he was and he was in a nest box looking very sorry for himself. As I picked him up the smell hit me, I knew instantly that it was maggots. When I examined him to my utter horror his vent was full of maggots. I have tried to remove them but it's impossible, god knows how many are actually inside him. I have bathed him, given him metacam and my brother will be here shortly to end his suffering. I am beyond sad. I'm sure he was fine on friday but I'm scared I may have missed something and it's my fault. There is no wound, they are inside his vent, I'm shocked. All the others are ok I have checked them all and trimmed up the other orpington just to make sure there is nothing in her fluffy feathers. I'm starting to think that may be chickens are'nt for me :(
 
Poor you! :( I had it once in a hen, and was mortified! Flystrike is horrid and can happen so quickly it is quite shocking.

Saying that it is treatable. There are sprays, I can't remember the name, but obtainable from the vet and designed for rabbits. Then a good clean with hydrogen peroxide or chlorhexidine (from a chemist) will clean it all up. A shot of Baytril will clear up any soft tissue infection. Of course this all depends on the level of infestation and underlying cause.

Don't give up though... I have found with keeping poultry that trials and tribulations always seem to come along at once.
 
Sorry to hear that Worthysmum. We are poo picking 3 times a day to keep the flies down and must wash the Orpingtons bottoms tomorrow. We dread that happening as it is horrible for them. Perhaps Foxy's treatments will sort it but if in any doubt we would despatch. They are being eaten from the inside after all!
 
Thank you but he has gone. The maggots were inside his vent, it's unbelievable how many were in there. Why they were there or how they got there I dont know. There was no wound. When he had gone to sleep I looked him over every where and he had no external wounds. The vent was very red and very swollen but I had tried in vain to remove them, but they just kept coming out, it was like something from a horror film. There was nothing I could do for him but to let him go to sleep. The skin was black tracking away from his vent towards his breast, I assume that is where the maggots were eating their way through him. He had'nt had any diarohea, well not since his antibiotics and he had been bathed since then. I just assume he must have had some droppings stuck, I hadnt noticed and that was it. I have trimmed Spangle up as she has a very fluffy butt. Dilly will be done tomorrow. They look funny with shaved bums but I'm now terrified it will happen again. I don't suppose any one knows if there is a spray that can prevent the flies laying. If you have any chickens with fluffy bums or may be just mucky please wash them, this was so awful and Grayson has lost his life in the most cruel way at just a year old. :(
 
I'm so sorry to hear this. Poor Grayson, he was certainly a little fighter, but I think you did the right thing for him. Please don't get too discouraged - as Foxy says, it does sometimes seem to happen that you can get a clutch of problems all at once, apparently unrelated to each other, and we have heard similar tales of woe from new keepers here in the past. Don't beat yourself up about it, you are doing absolutely the right things for your birds and they are beautifully looked after and very lucky to have a home with you.
I shall go out and check my hens bottoms as soon as I'm up and dressed!
 
It is very brave of you to post this Worthysmum, you must be so upset and understandably so, there was nothing anyone could have done. :( I am so, so sorry.

I have no doubt that sharing your story will help other members, we will all be on the watch out for any signs of this problem now. I will be out later checking my birds, and to be honest I had completely forgotten about the dangers of flystrike, especially in this weather, so thank you for reminding me to be vigilant.
 
Its really strange with out Grayson, I miss him. The girls seem different today, just tetchy and loads of little arguments. I hope they all settle down. I have even clipped the hair from my rabbits bum and the long haired pig has had a trim too :roll:
 
I'm going to be a bit unpopular here, and I'm very sorry Worthysmum for all you've been through. I know I was really upset when one of my favourite birds developed botfly strike. They seem always to go for one animal in a flock. BUT, feathered or hairy bums are natures way of protecting AGAINST fly strike and other infestations. It does not help to shave them! They should however be kept clean. Wetness or dirt on the feathers around the vent is an invitation to flies, and vent mites, which are almost as revolting.
 
Yes to a certain extent it is true, but we humans have interfered with mother nature and breed everything to excess. Orpingtons and very fluffy feathered birds would not be in a wild state, we have bred for excessive feathering. Guinea pigs would not have long hair dragging along the floor getting messy with urine and faeces. My rabbit would not have long fluffy pants if he was a wild rabbit. sadly it is us humans that cause many off the problems in our domestic pets and animals. We always think we can better nature, in truth we can't.
 
Oh gosh, poor things both of you. Thank you for sharing and a big hug. I had apsolutely no idea this could happen, so have learned something new and will check my girls tonight.
Don't give up on your chooks. I had a terrible time when I started, but things do get better and I wouldn't be without my Pekins now. they are worth every moment of heartache for all the joy they bring :)
Keep fighting, he will always be in your memory
Xxx
 
Ah thank you babybantam. I'm still so upset, never thought losing a chicken would affect me so much. I feel a bit of a fool weeping over a chicken, but I did love him :(
 
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