Egg problem or cecal worms or normal?

[Boonie Stomper]

This is Red Ranger mixed hen laying only few months. She is acting a little lethargic as I've gone to fetch her and found her standing by what appeared to be a shell less egg. 2 times have seen before but there was also a sort of soft shell near the eggy deposit. She laid normal eggs and double yolks in between these.
This is today but could not find any shell or the like. She was not leaving the spot. Note GRAPHIC...

This has been scooped up which brought with it old poop debris from coop floor. It has then been rinsed and pulled apart with swab. Is it a problem if so what?

She otherwise is acting normally.
Noted some belly redness. Vent clean.

 

[SonoranChick]

I'm sorry you are dealing with this, worms are never fun. How old is your hen? Looks like roundworm -

 

[Eggcessive]

You can always take in a few fresh droppings to your regular vet for a fecal float. The worms visible could be roundworms, but make sure they don't have segments, which might be tapeworms. Valbazen or fenbendazole (Safeguard) are very good to use on most worms. Depending on the kind they have, is depends on the dosage. Tapes require a different wormer. Most chickens tolerate a normal worm load, but if they are weakened by illness, that is when they may require treatment. Rounds worms and tapes are seen by the naked eye, but others are usually too small to see.

I would sure Valbazen 1/2 ml orally, and repeat in 10 days, and is very good. SafeGuard 1.25 ml orally for 3-5 days in a row will get most worms. WormOut Gel can be used in the water for 2 days to get most worms as well, but is is usually available online.

 

[Boonie Stomper]

Estimate. Age 10 to 11 months.
The photos are clearer in my phone. How can the worm be positive ID? Nothing moving. No apparent sections. Weird fat ring shape on one. Ends either into a thread or into mucousy glob. Small pus like coagulations one of which resembles immature yolk. Laid normal egg yesterday.

 

[Boonie Stomper]

Will head off now in search of the dewormer anyway, as it is inevitably going to be needed.
Thanks! Will update later.

 

[Eggcessive]

The only way to ID it is to get a fecal float. You can confine her overnight in a dog crate on paper towel or a puppy pad, and see if she has any more. I have seen the occasional roundworm, then none afterward. Worm larvae may be present without seeing them. Keep in mind that all chickens will have worms if they are on soil. Most tolerate a small amount. Usually capillary worms are the most harmful. I would either get the fecal done, or just use one of the above wormers on the whole flock.

 

[SonoranChick]

I agree with the above, you can get the fecal float test done to know exactly what kind of worms your chickens may have, and how to treat them... Or you can simply use a broad spectrum chicken wormer like those listed. The only issue with this is you may not treat the entire problem, as these products do not kill tapeworms. But we don't even know if your chickens have a tapeworm problem (tapes look like moving white rice in their poo. The photos you posted do not look like tapeworm). I would go with a broad spectrum chicken wormer for now. Good luck

 

[Boonie Stomper]

Surprisingly the local animal hospital, local farm supply store and big pet store chain all had absolutely NO dewormer for any kind of birds. Got Wazine by burning 3 more gallons fuel and the afternoon. It was all tractor supply aka southern states had right now.
So we go for deworm the flock in a couple of days. In the mean time will be vigilant for any more sign of problem.

 

[SonoranChick]

Nice job, it will be worth your troubles! Dewormers for birds, especially chickens, can be hard to find.

 

[rebrascora]

Hi

I'm not convinced that is a worm in your photos and the manner in which you treated the sample by rinsing etc may mean that what we are actually seeing is the chalaza from the egg.... the little white coils that suspend the yolk inside the albumen.

I have not wormed my birds in the past 4 years and I am very much an advocate for having a faecal sample tested before throwing chemicals at them, especially since most of the chemicals involve an egg withdrawal period after use, which means eggs are wasted..... it might have saved you a few hours and gallons of fuel too, if your flock do not have a problem with worms. There are mail order options for sending a sample to a lab if your local vet will not do it. It costs about £10 here in the UK for the mail order service including postage and you often get next day results.... cheaper and easier that taking a sample to the vets in my opinion.
Unfortunately as you found out, there are very few worming products on the market for treating poultry and most people use products that are intended for use in other animals ie off label. Safeguard goat wormer is one of the popular ones.

As regards her acting unwell, if it is her laying these soft shelled/shell less eggs, they are very difficult for the hen to expel (much harder than a proper egg) and really take it out of a bird trying to pass them. They will sometimes strain for a couple of days and go off their food with it. I would be inclined to give her an extra dose of calcium (direct dose with some human liquid calcium supplement or a crushed calcium tablet) sprinkled onto a favourite treat like scrambled egg. The calcium will help her with the contractions as well as hopefully boost her shell gland. New layers often have these problems when they first start up, so hopefully it is just a minor glitch that will sort itself out.

Best wishes

Barbara