Disappearing Round Worm Mystery

[Corbbean]

Hi All!
I was out of town for a week while my boyfriend took over chicken care. He works nights, so had to lock our 8 hens (who are 8 months) in the coop at about 5pm for the week I was gone. They usually have free range of the backyard. When I got back, the coop was in desperate need of clean out. During this I discovered dead round worms in several poops on the poop board

The next morning I found another wormy poop (in the now clean coop) and then watched one of the Wyandottes poop out a wormy poop that afternoon. They were kept locked in the run/coop that day while I treated with Wazine 17 in water as directed.

They are back to having free reign of the back yard now and I have not seen a single wormy poop since then (not on poop board, in yard, no where). It's been 7 days. Does this make sense?? Shouldn't the wazine have killed worms that they should be pooping out now? I read if they have enough worms to pass them, that they must have A LOT. So, where did they go??

FYI- I'm going to treat with safeguard when we reach 10 days after the Wazine.

All are acting normal except the Wyandotte who I saw poop the worms has had intermittent limping for the past 2 days, but I also saw her crash land into our water feature several days ago

Thanks to anyone who can explain this mystery to me!

 

[dawg53]

Wazine acts like a flush. Large roundworms are quickly excreted during and after the first 24 hours of dosing. This can be dangerous if a blockage occurs in the chickens digestive tract causing toxic dead worm overload, then death to the chicken.
Most of the time worms are absorbed as protein, this is most likely why you arnt seeing any worms...which is a good thing. You are wise to reworm again in 10 days with safeguard. Safeguard will kill large roundworms missed by the initial wazine treatment and will kill other types of worms that chickens can get as well.
When you worm in the future, just use safeguard, no need to use wazine. Then consider eventually adding valbazen to your arsenal to prevent worm resistance to one wormer or the other.

 

[Corbbean]

Thanks, dawg, for the quick reply! They very likely may have excreted most of them during the first 24 hours. I wasn't checking their poops in the run that day, only check the poop board presents the next morning.
I do have to say, though, I'm not sure I can accept "the worms are absorbed as protein" part. Without being mechanically ground up in the crop or gizzard, how does the intestine digest a whole worm? I'd be very interested to read some literature on this if anyone knows a source.

All are still acting normal and no sign of worms. I re-dose with Safegaurd today. I tried to find valbazen locally, but no luck so far. Thanks again!

 

[dawg53]

Thanks, dawg, for the quick reply! They very likely may have excreted most of them during the first 24 hours. I wasn't checking their poops in the run that day, only check the poop board presents the next morning.
I do have to say, though, I'm not sure I can accept "the worms are absorbed as protein" part. Without being mechanically ground up in the crop or gizzard, how does the intestine digest a whole worm? I'd be very interested to read some literature on this if anyone knows a source.

All are still acting normal and no sign of worms. I re-dose with Safegaurd today. I tried to find valbazen locally, but no luck so far. Thanks again!

I think you're confused. Google the roundworms lifecycle.

 

[Corbbean]

I understand the life cycle. The adult worms live in the intestines. If the birds are treated and the worms are killed, how would an adult worm be absorbed as protein in the intestine when it was never mechanically digested? Intestines can only absorb what has already been broken down into little bits. Or did I misunderstand your original statement? I'm not sure what this has to do with the life cycle of the worm.

 

[dawg53]

Eggs get past the gizzard to the digestive tract where they turn into larva, mature, and reproduce. Once a wormer is introduced, worms are paralyzed and detach themselves from the intestinal lining. The chickens digestive acids dissolve them and are absorbed as protein. The same way our stomach acids dissolves steak, protein.

If there's an infestation of worms, they can be too much to be dissolved and they can be excreted in feces. However, a heavy load can also cause a blockage, then causing toxic dead worm overload and the chicken can die.
What's a heavy load? Here's a pic....now just think how many thousands of eggs are being laid in one day, excreted onto your soil by only ONE roundworm. One roundworm is one roundworm too many.