Today, we’re diving into one of the more unpleasant aspects of raising backyard chickens—flystrike in chickens. Fun, right? (Insert sarcasm.) When I first started learning about the various illnesses, diseases, and injuries chickens can face, flystrike was one condition I prayed I’d never have to deal with! It’s not only dangerous but also downright gross.
Fortunately, I haven’t encountered it myself, but my sister, Tamar, recently had to treat one of her favorite chickens, Rizzo, for flystrike. Today, we’re going to hear about her experience, how she spotted it and how she managed to save Rizzo’s life.
Meet Rizzo. This is how he sat when Tamar suspected he wrong-quiet, lethargic and not his usual self.
What is Flystrike in Chickens?
So, what exactly is flystrike? According to Poultry DVM, flystrike, also known as myiasis, is a painful and potentially fatal condition caused by flies laying their eggs on the chicken. These eggs hatch into maggots, which begin to eat the bird alive. Yikes! Flies are typically attracted to open wounds or feces-covered feathers, but in some cases, they can infest even unbroken skin.
Flystrike can happen fast and needs to be treated as an emergency. Flies reproduce quickly—their eggs can hatch within 8 to 12 hours. If left untreated, the affected chicken can go into shock and die. This makes treating flystrike in chickens crucial and time-sensitive.
Is Flystrike in Chickens Contagious?
One of the common concerns among backyard chicken keepers is, "Is flystrike in chickens contagious?" The short answer is no—flystrike itself is not contagious. However, the underlying conditions that attract flies, like open wounds or unsanitary coop conditions, can affect multiple chickens. This means that if one chicken develops flystrike, others may be at risk if the root cause isn’t addressed.
Tamar's Experience Treating Flystrike in Chickens
My sister Tamar recently had to treat her rooster, Rizzo, for flystrike. Here’s the questions I asked her, how she discovered the issue and how she managed to help Rizzo make a full recovery.
Q1: What led you to check Rizzo for flystrike? Tamar: Rizzo and a few other chickens were pretty lethargic after a coop attack. While the others bounced back after a few days, Rizzo didn’t. Six days after the attack, I noticed a foul odor coming from him and noticed he was losing weight. I moved him into a kennel in the garage for quiet and easy access to food and water. That evening, the odor became overwhelming, and when I gave him a bath, I saw larvae falling off his vent area. That’s when I realized he had flystrike.
How to Treat Flystrike in Chickens
Q2: What did you do when you realized he had flystrike? Tamar: I immediately cleaned his vent area with warm water and blue Dawn dish soap. I followed a process of bathing him, rinsing with water, spraying his wounds with a diluted Chlorhexidine solution and picking off any larvae. I repeated this process until I was confident I had removed all the maggots.
Q3: What areas were affected? Tamar: His vent was the main area with damaged tissue. I also found a patch of larvae on the back of his neck, but thankfully, there was no tissue damage there.
Q4: What steps did you take to help him heal? Tamar: My vet sprayed his damaged tissue with a liquid bandage and started him on antibiotics and pain medication. I kept him inside the house for about 1.5 weeks to monitor his eating and drinking and to make sure he stayed away from flies or other chickens. During that time, he was on pain meds for three days and antibiotics for 14 days. He struggled to eat at first, so I used First Peep by Strong Animals Chicken Essentials to encourage him to eat. I also gave him and the other chickens Flock Fixer after the stressful coop attack.
Q5: How long was the recovery process? Tamar: Once I got him eating again and fully medicated, I saw improvement within three days. After 1.5 weeks, his wounds were healing and I moved him back to the coop, continuing his antibiotics. I also made sure to keep his vent area clean as he recovered.
Tips for Preventing Flystrike in Chickens
While flystrike in chickens isn’t contagious, it’s crucial to maintain good flock management to reduce the risk of an infestation. Here are some tips to help prevent flystrike in your chickens:
Regularly Check Your Chickens: Make it a habit to check your flock, especially around their vent area, for any signs of wounds, odors or maggots.
Keep the Coop Clean: Flies are attracted to dirty environments, so ensure your coop is cleaned frequently. Use products like Coop Recuperate to keep the area sanitary.
Treat Wounds Immediately: Any open wounds or signs of injury should be treated promptly to avoid attracting flies. Spraying Bye-Bye, Boo-Boos on wounds and scrapes helps soothe and heal the injury while also repelling pests.
Monitor During Warm Months: Flystrike is more common in warm weather, so be extra vigilant during the summer and early fall.
Q6: Anything else you’d like to share? Tamar: Flystrike is awful! Administering antibiotics and pain meds to chickens is tricky, but I’m glad I caught Rizzo’s condition early. Now I diligently check all my chickens in the evening, especially their vent areas. I even give them a sniff! Haha!
Flystrike in Chickens: A Recovering Rizzo
This is Rizzo on his way to full recovery—looking beautiful again! Thanks to Tamar’s quick action, Rizzo was saved from a potentially fatal case of flystrike.
Raising chickens is an adventure, and while it comes with its challenges, being prepared and knowledgeable can make all the difference. Flystrike is one of those conditions you hope to avoid, but knowing how to spot and treat it can be life-saving for your flock.
Until next time,
-The Wing Lady
Flock Fixer - Hydrate & Restore Health During Times of Challenge
You can’t always see it, but your flock will experience a weakened immune system during times of challenge. Flock Fixer is a vitamin-rich additive that helps hydrate, restore vital nutrients and balance digestive health.
Bye-Bye, Boo-Boos - Wound Care for Chickens
Bye-Bye, Boo-Boos is a safe and natural way to soothe and mend wounds, cuts, scrapes and abrasions for your flock. It contains organic lavender, tea tree essential oils and vitamin E to aid healing and protection from infection.
Coop Recuperate - Freshen Up Your Chicken Coop
Coop Recuperate is a safe and natural way to care for your coop. This coop refresher contains organic eucalyptus and lemongrass essential oil, along with diatomaceous earth to reduce odor and moisture and help improve the quality of your compost.
First Peep - Chick Feed Supplement
First Peep is a non-medicated chick feed supplement that naturally supports digestive health in baby chicks the first few weeks of life.