Broody Hen with Roundworm

[Winchikn]

Hi,

I have a hen who has been on a nest for 23 days now - we think the eggs are not viable. I have chicks on order to pick up and give her on July 29 (5 days from now).

Broody has had watery poops and only been leaving the nest every couple of days and not been eating much (though still keen to eat scrambled egg and chick crumble mixed with water). She came off her nest this morning and had a big watery poop and a more solid one ... that has a roundworm in it.

She is segregated from the other 5 hens and one roo in my flock (who kept pushing her off her nest, hence the segregation). I think the others have worms as well and I will deworm them all in the next few days. I had planned to keep her segregated with the chicks for the first while as I've got some pinch points in my run that would put the chicks at risk, and I've got a couple of cranky hens in my little flock who I don't trust not to harm the chicks.

Questions:
- can I deworm broody when she's been brooding for 3 weeks, not eating a whole lot, and in somewhat compromised health (not helped by the worms, of course...)??
- can I still give her chicks, or is the active worm situation going to put them at dire risk?

So sad that this is where our attempt to hatch chicks this year has led...

 

[Wyorp Rock]

If you are seeing roundworms being expelled in the poop, she needs to be treated.

Give Safeguard 10% Liquid Goat Dewormer at a rate of 0.23ml per pound of weight orally once, then repeated in 10days to treat Roundworms Only.

It's up to you whether or not to allow her to raise the chicks, they are going to be exposed to many things growing up.

Either way, the hen needs to be cared for. If she's in poor condition, then it may be best to break her broodiness, get her eating/drinking well and back in shape and you brood the chicks yourself.

 

[Winchikn]

If you are seeing roundworms being expelled in the poop, she needs to be treated.

Give Safeguard 10% Liquid Goat Dewormer at a rate of 0.23ml per pound of weight orally once, then repeated in 10days to treat Roundworms Only.

It's up to you whether or not to allow her to raise the chicks, they are going to be exposed to many things growing up.

Either way, the hen needs to be cared for. If she's in poor condition, then it may be best to break her broodiness, get her eating/drinking well and back in shape and you brood the chicks yourself.

Thank you. I will get a first dose into her tomorrow.

She is still has decent energy when she comes off her nest, and her appetite is very solid, so I'd like to let her take the chicks if she'll have them.

I'm in Canada and can't get liquid safeguard so I have to use the paste, which I've done before.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you. I will get a first dose into her tomorrow.

She is still has decent energy when she comes off her nest, and her appetite is very solid, so I'd like to let her take the chicks if she'll have them.

I'm in Canada and can't get liquid safeguard so I have to use the paste, which I've done before.

Safeguard Equine Paste 10% will work just fine.

Hey, it's good that she's got energy and an appetite, if she's able to take them on, I'd see if she will accept the chicks.
Having Mama hen look after them is so much easier than having to brood them yourself.