Eeewwww! Worms!

[yomama]

I had a hen that had worms. We are fortunate to have an extremely good avian - only - vet here and I took my hen in for lethargy. She ended up having a kidney infection of all things, but she also had worms. Vet said that along with wild animals, bugs, like grasshoppers and earthworms can also carry them. Go figure. The bugs eat the wormegg- infected poo, then the chicken eats the bug, thus infecting the chicken with the parasitic egg that turns into the worm. She had me worm my hen, as well as the rest of the group, with Ivermectin Paste (for horses).Just about a pea size amount, then repeat in a couple of days. I've always been a little nervous about using DE. My vet told me not to use it because it can scratch up up the lining of their intestines, and can be hard on them. I know that alot of people swear by it though, and if it works great for them, then I think that is great. (I'm glad I found your thread. I was going to possibly worm my group before winter, and now I want to call my vet and see what she might reccommend as a roundworm or broad spectrum type wormer.) Also, some worms are transferable to humans. I know that roundworms from cats and dogs, are transferable to people. I would imagine the same be true for chickens, but I don't know that for sure, so don't quote me on that. I tried researching it, but couldn't come up with anything. The way I see it, if the chicken has worms, then goes poo, it passes the parasitic egg in their stool. If you get chicken poo on your hands, then don't wash your hands, then somehow get that into your mouth (eeeewww!!!) you've ingested the worm egg. Not a chance I want to take. I guess the lesson is always wash your hands after playing with poo.

I do agree with worming the dogs on a regular basis too. Dogs do eat the darndest things, I agree. I worm my regularly, along with the goats, chickens and cats. Better safe than sorry, in my opinion.
**I agree, parasitic worms are sooooo gross. As a small animal vet tech for 13 years, I've dealt with all kinds of gross things. I can deal with all kinds of gross parasites - lice, mites, maggots, you name it. But when it's one of my own pets, I totally get grossed out if it has a flea, let alone worms!!!!!

ETA: thought it was tape that my hen had, but ivermectin does not kill tape, so it must have been round worms. I think I am getting old

 

[yomama]

Quote:
I'ts impossible for chicks to be born with worms..infection can only occur by ingesting embryonated eggs.

Agreed

 

[geebs]

Get the wazine and get r done... That many worms and you stand to lose a bird or two.

 

[Dora'smom]

Wazine is added to the only water supply your birds have, for a period of 24 hours. After that time has passed, you go back to plain water, or with vitamins and electrolytes, or ACV. I wouldn't leave the Wazine water out for over 24 hours.
Ivermectin is often recommended, but poultry use is totally off-label.

 

[hiker125]

I looked up wazine on the internet and a couple of different sites advise that it is not for egg laying adults. I would guess because the medication is transmitted to the eggs. After a certain period can you begin eating the eggs again?

 

[Patoot]

Okay, I'll go get some Wazine today. Thanks. I'll call around. I saw 2 of them poop this morning and no worms. I have been looking for them and nothing since that day, but there are too many poops for me to see them all of course. I will go get some for sure. Should I use DE too or just use that for the coop?

Thanks.

Bree

 

[azygous]

Did the worms look like brown rice? Similar shape and size and color? If so, they're probably fly maggots and not worms.

Before you rush out and buy worm medicine, be sure that they actually have worms and the poop didn't just hatch fly maggots, which if it's been very warm, can hatch in just a few hours.

 

[Patoot]

Quote:
I'm sure. I saw her poop and saw it immediately so it wasn't maggots that got there later. Plus, they didn't look like short little brown things. They were lighter in color and longer and skinny like earthworms. I'm sure. Thanks for the heads up though.

I gave them the wormer yesterday and just replaced their water with plain water a couple hours ago. In a couple weeks I will give them Ivermectin and wait an additional 2 weeks before eating any eggs...assuming they start laying by then. I guess it's good I was able to catch it now since they aren't laying eggs yet and even if they start laying, I'll just be missing the beginning tiny eggs that can be deformed or shell-less or at least very small at the very least.

Thanks for the help. I'm going to go ahead and use the DE in the coop anyway since I was planning on that. I don't know if I will add it to the food. I will look into it more.

What is your opinion about vitamin supplementation and ACV? I see some people say they use those on a regular basis...nothing to do with worms. Should I be doing that?

Bree