Chortle Chook Posted July 9, 2013 Share Posted July 9, 2013 Last night I went to put my chickens to bed and my favourite Poland, little Dotty, had a dirty looking bum. I cut her feathers back and to my horror saw these maggots. I got them off with tissue, washed her in hibi scrub and spraid savlon on her. Then I put her in a cat carrier in the bathroom where she could have some peace and quiet. This morning, though she seemed to be pottering about not unhappily and was eating, there were more maggots. This time after washing her I put some diluted iodine on her and took her to the vet. They said that she had prolapsed and with this heat the maggots had got in there. They put her to sleep. I feel in shock and somehow very lacking. How could I not have noticed? What a mockery it mades of my wanting a pretty flock. Really it is the individual chicken that matters. She was so sweet, always waited for me to put her to bed, and used to sort of sing to me. RIP 'Dotty' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted July 9, 2013 Share Posted July 9, 2013 Am so sorry to hear that and had no idea that could happen. I guess chickens hide things very well due to their feathers and can 'appear' normal to our eyes until this happens. So sorry, as they become such pets and part of the family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted July 9, 2013 Share Posted July 9, 2013 I'm very sorry to hear this - it's rare in hens, and is very hard to spot so don't blame yourself; the prolapse may have been irreversible anyway. For anyone else concerned about this, there is a sticky here about flystrike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted July 9, 2013 Share Posted July 9, 2013 Awwww, I'm sorry to read about your chicken. One of mine had a prolapse but without the maggots. It is sad this happens to chickens but don't blame yourself for not noticing - chickens hide things so well. Sending you a hug xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted July 9, 2013 Share Posted July 9, 2013 Very sorry to hear that . I'm sure it could have happened to any of us so don't blame yourself. xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted July 9, 2013 Share Posted July 9, 2013 OMG that is horrific.....poor you.....gonna wash the girls bum's this evening:(((( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 9, 2013 Share Posted July 9, 2013 It's a good idea to keep them clean in the hot weather gavclojak. Put some kitchen paper with drops of citronella oil and eucalyptus oil up around the run to keep the flies away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted July 9, 2013 Share Posted July 9, 2013 Thank you, all of mine seem to have dirty bums, that's how they came and have remained pretty much the same! i an=m going to be all over the washing tonight when i return from work. i am scared now in case i find something....i can handle anything except maggots....they are like the true incarnation of evil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 9, 2013 Share Posted July 9, 2013 Best to wash them on a warm day when they have time to dry rather than later on when they will go to roost damp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted July 9, 2013 Share Posted July 9, 2013 Another thing i didn't know!!!!! a massive thank you.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted July 9, 2013 Share Posted July 9, 2013 The Dogmother......cant help you with chicken advice but i can always return the favor if you have any problems with your teeth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 9, 2013 Share Posted July 9, 2013 thanks, I'll bear that in mind Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted July 9, 2013 Share Posted July 9, 2013 So sorry to hear that, what an awful thing to happen. Don't beat yourself up as I know how much you love your girls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted July 9, 2013 Author Share Posted July 9, 2013 Many thanks for your kind words everyone. It does help For anyone else concerned about this, there is a sticky here about flystrike. Thanks Olly- that is a very good article indeed. I can see that the use of the tissue to get the maggots off was wrong. The article says it is "essential that all maggots are removed, as they will eat healthy flesh as well as dead tissue" which the vet said was happening. Although by this morning she was as clean as clean, tiny maggots just kept on appearing. I thought the vet would use something like they have for fly strike in sheep which makes all the moggots come out, but she said that it would be too harsh for a hen and would poison her so kill her anyway. Also as it was a prolapse that caused it she said that there was really no hope. I'm finding it a little hard to take joy in my other hens this evening, but I also know that life will go on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Margaret Posted July 9, 2013 Share Posted July 9, 2013 Oh Catherine, so sorry to hear about your hen. You can't possibly blame yourself, you are one of the best chicken mummy's I know. Sending you big hugs. I have 3 Broodies at the moment who are very hot so will keep an eye out for anything horrid. Hope you are starting to feel a little better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_B Posted July 9, 2013 Share Posted July 9, 2013 Oh my goodness - I am so sorry to be reading this, Shabby Chic. I can't imagine how you must be feeling but you know how much you adore your lovely chickens and how much you take care of them and you would do everything in your power to make sure they are all OK. Huge hugs!! xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
counturchickens Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 So sorry to hear about this, and echo what other have said, please don't blame yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egghead68 Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 I am so sorry to hear this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcfee2 Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 bless her, poor little thing, and hugs to you for trying to get her right. I hope that you feel better tomorrow, and that you hold all the lovely memories close for when you're feeling low. x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 What a shock for you. So sorry. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndreaT Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 So sorry to hear this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newcountrygirl Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 Only just read this - so sorry Shabbychic - it must have been so upsetting for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted July 11, 2013 Author Share Posted July 11, 2013 Thanks everyone you are all so kind I've been thinking and thinking about it (like you do I suppose). To me the puzzle was that their house is always kept very clean and if I do spot dirty bums they get a good wash quickly. I guess flies in this weather do their business very fast. They had laid their eggs not on the prolapse, nor on her vent but on a small wound just above the vent. I think perhaps she, or the other chickens had tried to peck the prolapse (which was quite small as I could pop it back in easily with my, cleaned, little finger) so creating a wound that I did not spot but that the flies did It is all grose. I only hope that as the maggots were very small, they had only just hatched and so did not make her suffer too much. My poor wee girly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 Ah bless you, I spoke to my poultry vet about it today and she had never seen it on a chicken but apparently lost of rabbits so I guess you have just been incredibly unlucky but it sounds like you acted very quickly and that's all you can do x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 I think you can take comfort that it sounds as if you caught it quickly, before they got too deep. They will find any break in the skin given half a chance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
