![]() Permethrin is a synthetic that originates from pyrethrin, a natural insect repellent found in chrysanthemums. Poultry dust brands typically feature permethrin as a main ingredient. Also, about once a month-especially in the summer-Elaine and I apply a poultry dust to feathers, working it in particularly under the wings. Chicks with pasty butt can also fall victim to fly-strike. For example, myiasis is primarily a warm season disorder, so spring through fall I now frequently check our chickens for irritations anywhere on their bodies and also for gobs of droppings dangling from their vents. Preventative measures include periodic applications of poultry dust, keeping the run clean and planting various fly-repelling herbs. In short, flies are going to find that weak point or wound and take advantage of it.” A high percentage of the time, flies lay their eggs in organic material such as feces. “Flies will take advantage of a chicken that is sick or in some way debilitated. “Fly-strike is more of an opportunity disease,” Stewart says. The next morning, my wife Elaine and I observed maggots streaming out of his vent a fly or flies had evidently laid eggs in the moist droppings clinging to that area. I also examined him but couldn’t see anything wrong. Later, I learned that such signs as these-lethargy, loss of appetite, being bullied-are signs of fly-strike and, for that matter, all manners of chicken illnesses.Īfter removing Boss from the flock, I placed him in our chicken tractor and left food and water, laced with probiotics, for him. Boss’ much smaller brother, Johnny, then strolled over and began mercilessly pecking him on the head. One May evening, my alpha male seemed a little listless the next morning, he came out of the henhouse without having crowed and sat down in a corner of the run. When the affliction felled Boss, I hadn’t heard of it and was unaware of the symptoms. In all these situations, flies might enter into a body opening or wound and lay their eggs, and then, after hatching in 24 hours or less, maggots begin feeding on the skin or insides of a live animal. For example, a chicken might have a wound, a cut, diarrhea, swelling, some sort of cold or disease, or, in the most mundane circumstance, merely have moist feces clinging to its vent area. Veterinarian Paul Stewart, who runs the Avian and Exotic Pet Clinic in Roanoke, Virginia, says the affliction usually starts from some underlying condition. Botflies, blowflies and screwflies are among the culprits. ![]() If your birds get hit with this awful affliction and you’re prepared, your birds can survive, too.įly-strike, also known as myiasis or blowfly–strike, can occur in any animal, including humans. But this time, armed with knowledge, I reacted quickly and he survived. Last year, Boss’ successor, Don, was also hit by fly-strike. I vowed then never to lose another chicken to this affliction. To see maggots streaming out of the near-dead heritage Rhode Island Red rooster broke my heart. The worst way I have ever seen an animal die-and as a hunter, angler and outdoor photographer, I know how cruel nature can be-is when Boss, my rooster, succumbed to fly-strike five years ago. ![]()
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