Chicken feels thin, could it be worms again?

[KRack]

I feel like I live on here lately. And not in a fun way.

I had a chicken with worms about a month ago. I actually lost one before I caught worms in the other. I treated the whole flock at that time with fenbendazole from this site.

https://www.jefferspet.com/poultry-dewormer-5x-50-capsules/p

There were a lot of wormy poops for the following week, and I hoped I cleared the girls.

Then I had a chicken who became ill 2 weeks ago that I initially treated with Corid, and put the rest of the flock on it to be safe. Her fecal float came back that she did have coccidiosis, but the vet suspected something weakened her immune system to let that overgrowth happen. She ended up being euthanized last week and being sent for a necropsy because she developed Marek like symptoms. I still don't have those results.

I change the coop every day. I shovel paths through snow and ice so that they can get out and about somewhat, even in the middle of winter. I keep up with food and water daily. I'm at a loss! Could it be worms again just from them having to roam and peck in the same paths they poop on, while we have snow and ice?

I'll do another fecal float on Monday or Tuesday when I can run to the vet, but does anyone else have any suggestions or thoughts? I'm feeling like I'm failing my flock and I hate it.

 

[Tonyroo]

@Eggcessive , @Wyorp Rock , suggestions?

 

[Lizzy733]

Did you deworm with two doses one week apart?

The dewormers kill live worms, but not their eggs. To break the worm cycle, a second dose a week later should catch all the fresh hatchlings before they get the chance to lay a new cycle. I prefer to weigh and direct dose my birds rather than put it in the water so I know they're getting the right dosage - especially if I suspect someone's ill.

With your thin hen, is that from checking her condition at the breast\keel? Often, worms will cause anemia too, so keep an eye out for pale combs and wattles. I know from experience, a bad coccidia explosion can lead to necrotic enteritis and an affected bird will go down hill very fast. If they survive, it can permanently scar their digestive tract and lead to nutrition issues if not enough is left intact.

Do you know if your dewormer covers tapeworm as well? A lot of the ones I find around here seem to treat everything but.

A fecal float will let you know exactly what you're dealing with though so you can ensure you're treating for the right thing.

 

[KRack]

Did you deworm with two doses one week apart?

The dewormers kill live worms, but not their eggs. To break the worm cycle, a second dose a week later should catch all the fresh hatchlings before they get the chance to lay a new cycle. I prefer to weigh and direct dose my birds rather than put it in the water so I know they're getting the right dosage - especially if I suspect someone's ill.

With your thin hen, is that from checking her condition at the breast\keel? Often, worms will cause anemia too, so keep an eye out for pale combs and wattles. I know from experience, a bad coccidia explosion can lead to necrotic enteritis and an affected bird will go down hill very fast. If they survive, it can permanently scar their digestive tract and lead to nutrition issues if not enough is left intact.

Do you know if your dewormer covers tapeworm as well? A lot of the ones I find around here seem to treat everything but.

A fecal float will let you know exactly what you're dealing with though so you can ensure you're treating for the right thing.

I was advised on here that if I did 5 consecutive days of deworming, I didn't need to do a week later. So I didn't, but perhaps I should have? They had round worms at that time.

Yes, I only know my hen is thin from checking her condition at the breast/keel. She's very active and normal looking otherwise. I'm going to try to follow her around tomorrow to check her poop and collect it, but I haven't seen any diarrhea in the coop or any blood in any droppings.

My first chicken who died from worms about a month ago just up and died. She was keeping up, didn't have a pale comb or wattles, she declined so rapidly I didn't even know there was anything wrong. She was thin (I discovered too late) but I wasn't checking them as often at that time, because I didn't realize their feathers could hide weight loss so well.

Thank you for replying!!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

If you gave the Fenbendazole for 5 consecutive days, then you shouldn't have to repeat dosing to treat Roundworms.

You had confirmation from your state lab saying worms were the cause of death on the other hen?

Any photos of the hens, their poop, housing, feed, etc.?

 

[KRack]

If you gave the Fenbendazole for 5 consecutive days, then you shouldn't have to repeat dosing to treat Roundworms.

You had confirmation from your state lab saying worms were the cause of death on the other hen?

Any photos of the hens, their poop, housing, feed, etc.?

No, I just had a fecal float confirm round worms after she had died and assumed that was it because the vet said her symptoms were consistent with that diagnosis.

I can try to take pictures tomorrow of the chicken and coop. This is the one we have..

https://www.chickencoopcompany.com/products/orpington-lodge-chicken-coop-6-12-chickens

I have 6 hens, and they free range so they’re not only in that run.

 

[KRack]

If you gave the Fenbendazole for 5 consecutive days, then you shouldn't have to repeat dosing to treat Roundworms.

You had confirmation from your state lab saying worms were the cause of death on the other hen?

Any photos of the hens, their poop, housing, feed, etc.?

We’ve had a ton of ice and snow though, so they only have a small path to where they dirt bath and back to their coop, to travel. I didn’t know if they could be pecking where they’re pooping and get reinfected with roundworms?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Yes, picking at dirt, they can pick up worm eggs and the cycle starts over again.

I would get the fecal float to see if another round of treatment is necessary.

 

[KRack]

Yes, picking at dirt, they can pick up worm eggs and the cycle starts over again.

I would get the fecal float to see if another round of treatment is necessary.

Ok, that’s what I’ll do. Hopefully I can do that Monday. I’ll try to get a picture tomorrow in case that gives you any other thoughts as well.

Thank you for your help!!

 

[Lizzy733]

Okay, sorry missed the 5 consecutive days part. That should be fine for having broken the cycle. And yes, I feel your pain. I lost a lovely Dorking hen under very similar conditions. She had such thick feathering that it completely hid the problem.

Worms do eventually come back, but it should take some time for them to build up to the point its affecting their health again.

What breeds do you keep? Hybrid layers tend to be quite lean at the breast in general.

With the girl you're concerned with, you could try tracking her weight to see if she is actively losing. Weigh-ins are best done at the same time each day, preferably before they've eaten. A kitchen scale is best accuracy-wise. Ideally something with a tare function where you can pop her into a clear bin or other container on it and get the measurement. You can also step onto a body scale with her, but the measurements won't be as accurate as you'd want for weight tracking.