Are they roundworms?

[HiEverybirdy]

I'm so grateful the local veterinary practice was willing to step out of their comfort zone to do a fecal test on my Easter Egger's slightly bloody poop after I thought I maybe saw worm fragments in it. But what on earth are "trica/strongiles"?? The tech pronounced it "trick-a-strong-gillies" (through a mask in the parking lot as she rushed from car to car, which will cause confusion even without a weird worm word).

I said, "Is there a common name?" She said, "Yeah, we've never heard of it. Put this in their water for 24 hours today and again in a week. Retest in 2 weeks." She pointed to the receptionist, who handed over 2 syringes of Panacur. I asked if they would please write down the name of the parasite. Typed on the receipt is, "Trica/strongiles."

Could that be "trichostrongylus," and is it a kind of roundworm? Or has anyone ever dealt with a trica/strongiles scenario?

This is our first year with chickens and first experience with the dreaded trica/strongiles. The vet didn't mention egg withdrawal, but I remembered a warning from the chicken class I took--those County Co-op classes rock! We're planning to discard their eggs for 17 days.

That first sentence isn't ironic: I really appreciate the veterinary staff. They do SO, so much for animals in our small community. Just wanted to share the experience to possibly get some feedback from the BYC hive in case we're missing anything.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Yes, they are large roundworms.
Did they prescribe or give you a treatment?

 

[pibb]

Sounds like ascarids which are very common. Never heard them being said like that. You will be dealing with them again in the future more than likely. Safeguard for goats, horses, or cows from Tractor Supply is the same medicine. You just have to know what the dose is, which you can get from here.

I don't think regular Panacur dissolves in water. That is the part in question for me.

 

[HiEverybirdy]

Yes, they are large roundworms.
Did they prescribe or give you a treatment?

Thanks. They prescribed 5cc Panacur 100mg/ml, dissolved in 1 gallon of water, given as only water source for 24 hours. Repeat in 1 week. They provided 2, 5cc syringes full of paste.

The Panacur dissolved fine, but I saved part of the gallon to shake up and refresh the waterers in the morning--saw some posts where people were concerned about it settling.

I'm more concerned about the fact that Panacur-type stuff is usually dosed by weight, which this method obviously doesn't do.

 

[HiEverybirdy]

Sounds like ascarids which are very common. Never heard them being said like that. You will be dealing with them again in the future more than likely. Safeguard for goats, horses, or cows from Tractor Supply is the same medicine. You just have to know what the dose is, which you can get from here.

I don't think regular Panacur dissolves in water. That is the part in question for me.

Thanks, what they provided fortunately dissolved easily. I haven't seen settling but will shake up the rest of the gallon in the morning before refreshing the waterers.

Whatever it is, nothing will surprise me if it comes back. Also dealing with northern fowl mites right now.

 

[HiEverybirdy]

Just read the parasitipedia about Ascaridia. Makes a lot of sense. Our EEs are only 13 weeks old, and it sounds like youth is one of the risk factors, along with eating earthworms. Can anyone really stop their chickens from eating earthworms?

https://parasitipedia.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2647&Itemid=2923

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I used to encourage earthworm and all sorts of invertebrate eating by my chickens till I discovered that virtually all are intermediate hosts of all sorts of parasitic worms.
The Panacur should also take care of the mites. Now would be the time to clean out bedding and nests to eradicate the building of mites.
It is encouraging that the paste mixes with water.

 

[HiEverybirdy]

I used to encourage earthworm and all sorts of invertebrate eating by my chickens till I discovered that virtually all are intermediate hosts of all sorts of parasitic worms.

I've literally snagged earthworms out of their beaks if I see them dig them up. Just for good measure. Obviously, when I'm not around, they're eating a lot of things that carry other things.

It's been a little discouraging because I work hard to provide low-stress, spacious, clean environments with lots of places to dustbathe, plus new ground to reduce parasite loads...but our chickens are young and have unfortunately encountered issues they can't seem to kick on their own.

The Panacur should also take care of the mites. Now would be the time to clean out bedding and nests to eradicate the building of mites.

Panacur works for mites!? That would be a phenomenal side benefit. Good timing because I just did a 2nd coop clean & treatment and will do another next week. Those buggers are ubiquitous, but hopefully we'll keep them under some kind of control.

Off-topic, but Penedesencas are a neat breed choice. I read about them a while back in the breed thread you posted. Very cool.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

...
Panacur works for mites!? That would be a phenomenal side benefit. Good timing because I just did a 2nd coop clean & treatment and will do another next week. Those buggers are ubiquitous, but hopefully we'll keep them under some kind of control.

Off-topic, but Penedesencas are a neat breed choice. I read about them a while back in the breed thread you posted. Very cool.

I think it does but I'm not positive. I know it has worked for scaly leg mites.

Thanks for your comments on Penes.
I used to have Welsummers and loved the dark eggs. I wanted other dark egg layers but avoided Marans because they are so common and I'm not. I wanted something different and since I hatch a lot and eat all the extra boys, I chose the DP variety which is black.

 

[dawg53]

Panacur aka fenbendazole does not treat mites, only worms. Permethrin treats mites, Nu-Stock for scaly leg mites.