Can't identify these worms...PLEASE HELP!

[Rochellerichter]

Thank you everyone for taking the time to respond. It's definitely pointed me in the right direction, now that I am pretty confident they are maggots. Checking for flystrike tomorrow and proceeding accordingly. I found a great thread to help on this issue for products, treatments, etc. I'll update here in the future and if I need any help with treatment, I for sure will. I just might...hope you all have a happy Thanksgiving next week. God Bless!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

We got out first flock 3 years ago and they have dwindled down to 2. Easter eggers. They have stopped laying for a couple weeks now (earlier than usual to slow down production but they have stopped altogether), barely eating/drinking, seem lethargic, etc.

If someone can help me identify, so I can get them on the right dewormer, I would greatly appreciate it!! Or, should I just put them on something like ivermectin that is supposed to kill 99% of avian parasites?

Still doesn't make sense since they are not eating/drinking or laying.

Are your hens molting?
This could account for them not laying eggs. Sometimes hens in molt also do not eat very well.

If you have photos of your hens, that may be helpful.

I'd check them for lice/mites, see that their crops are emptying overnight. You don't mention what you feed, but focus on them eating their normal nutritionally balanced poultry feed. Give small treats/tidbits of egg or fish (mackerel, tuna, sardines) a few times a week to boost protein, add interest and give something tasty.

Unfortunately Ivermectin seems to no longer be the best treatment for "parasites". A lot depends on what you are wanting to treat. Ivermectin can be fairly effective in treating Mites on the birds, but housing still needs to be treated (Permethrin) and Mites eliminated from the coop in order to be successful. Mites have to bite the bird in order to get a dose of the medication, so dusting the birds with Permethrin can be just as effective if you also treat housing. Lice do not seem to be affected by Ivermectin very much, they do not feed on the blood of the chicken.
For worms, Ivermectin may still treat for Roundworms, but there are better anthelmintics available like Fenbendazole (Safeguard) and Albendazole (Valbazen).

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'm just surprised the chickens are not scratching through that and eating the maggots. Should be a nice treat for them.

Check for flystrike but I suspect flies laid eggs in wet poopy bedding and they hatched. Nothing dramatic or unusual.

 

[saracarver3]

Looks like caterpillar to me

 

[allen wranch]

Roundworms can live outside the host, at least for a while, when expelled in the poop. Unfortunately, they make tasty treats for the chickens to reingest.