Best time to treat roundworms?

[Winchikn]

Hello BYC-ers,

I'm 99% sure my flock is suffering from roundworms. Things have started to warm up and our big snow load is in full melt in southern British Columbia the last couple of weeks so there has been standing water in my run. I'm now seeing watery poops, lots of yellow foamy poops, and intestinal shed (or possibly blood). Plus I've found a few worms in poops/the run - so I know from that it is roundworm (and I can't get a fecal float here to tell me anything beyond that).

My flock right now is 13 total - aged from 8 months to 2.5 years - all heritage breeds including 3 Caramel Queens, 3 Easter Eggers, 2 Buff Orps, 2 Production Reds, 1 Light Sussex, 1 Rhodebar, and 1 Buff Chantecler. I've got two roos so they are somewhat separated into two flocks in two runs with a decent amount of space to roam - but everything is mucky right now.

The chickens all have normal energy and are laying and eating fine. I've seen this cycle in wet conditions the past and they have come through it when things dry up but I want to treat this time.

My first question - is it best to treat now or in 2-3 weeks when most of our snow will gone and things will be drier and therefore there's less chance of reinfection?

And a related question - could roundworms be causing nutrient deficiencies that would result in feather pecking? Most of my younger hens have more consistently runny poops and have been feather pickers since the fall when I got them as pullets.

A few poop pics because I know everyone wants to see them:



Many thanks for any advice. I will have a follow up question about meds but thought I'd start here.

 

[dawg53]

All the symptoms you're seeing in your birds can be caused by worms. I understand that it's tough to get wormers in Canada.
Here's a wormer you can use that will take care of large roundworms, Piperazine 52. Follow the instructions on the label for use in poultry. Reworm your birds in 30 days, then as needed.
https://www.petware.ca/products/18544
I've used Piperazine, aka Wazine 17 to eliminate large roundworms in my birds. It acts as a roundworm "flush." Unfortunately it was taken off the market here in the U.S.

 

[Callender Girl]

I would start treating right away, since you will likely have to re-treat anyway. I recently had to deal with roundworm in my flock. Initially, I tried using a powder that was mixed with their food and had mixed results. Second time around, the vet gave me liquid Strongid-T so I could individually dose them.

I think that method was more effective. I feel like the longer you wait, the higher the worm load could be. Good luck with treating your birds.

 

[Eggcessive]

The piperazine is a good choice for roundworms. Panacur equine paste or 10% liquid for dogs can also be used for most chicken worms. Dosage is 0.25 ml per pound given orally to each chicken for 5 days. Shake liquid well and do not dilute. To treat only roundworms it can be given once and again in 10 days.

 

[Winchikn]

Thank you. I will go ahead and treat right away. I got some Piperazine from our local farmer's supply. It looks like this:



Looks like the dosage is the same as the instructions from the link @dawg53 shared (Mix 4gm with 2 kg feed or 3.25 L of water)- just divided by 100!

A few questions:

• do I mix into a solution and then give as drinking water for one day - or do I administer each bird orally?
• do I retreat in 10 or 30 days?
• is there are egg withdrawal period with piperazine?