Gizzard woms?

[nestleaver1]

3 year old hen, recently moulted, not laying, seemed sad and had distended abdomen. I drained her of about 300ml of fluid 5 days ago (yellow, slightly cloudy, no smell) . I wormed flock with fenbendazole 10 days ago. Would this be dead gizzard worms emerging? I have seen 3 or 4 poos like this. All from same chicken I think. Her gizzard feels quite large and she shakes her head (pain?) Occasionally. Looks healthy and has nice skinny bum now. Should I dose them again? Thanks!

 

[SulkyBantam]

Yes probably, just to clear her and make sure it doesn't crop up again.
But a small dose and only if you think she is strong enough!
So no others are affected?

 

[Eggcessive]

I will tag @dawg53 to have a look. Fenbendazole should be used at least twice 10-14 days apart to get roundworms, which looks like what is in the picture above. But to get most all worms except tapeworms, it can be given for 5 consecutive days. Other worms and their eggs are not seen easily without a microscope. Dosage is 0.25 or 1/4 ml per pound of weight.

 

[nestleaver1]

Thank you!! No others seem affected all nice firm poos. I'll redose them all just now then. They like it mixed with porridge oats... roundworms I think are more solid than these. Really floppy no structure to discern. I think no could make out a mouth under microscope. Not much info on gizzard worms...

 

[Eggcessive]

The main poultry worms I know of are roundworms, cecal worms, threadworms (capillary worms,) and the more rare gapeworms and tapeworms. When treating, it is best to give the dose orally to each chicken so that you know they are getting the proper dosage. I can sympathize with having a lot of birds. I used to worm 60 birds individually at 10 day intervals. Now I have a more manageable number of chickens to take care of, which makes it easier yearround.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

View attachment 2411962
3 year old hen, recently moulted, not laying, seemed sad and had distended abdomen. I drained her of about 300ml of fluid 5 days ago (yellow, slightly cloudy, no smell) . I wormed flock with fenbendazole 10 days ago. Would this be dead gizzard worms emerging? I have seen 3 or 4 poos like this. All from same chicken I think. Her gizzard feels quite large and she shakes her head (pain?) Occasionally. Looks healthy and has nice skinny bum now. Should I dose them again? Thanks!

Looks like a mix of intestinal shedding and grass/straw/hay to me.

You mention her "gizzard" feels large - are you referring to her crop (the the right of her breast)?

It does sound like she's got more than one thing going on here - you drained fluid from her abdomen (symptom Ascites) - this can be due to reproductive issues like Peritonitis, Cancer, etc. or sometimes fluid is due to organ dysfunction.

If it's her crop that is quite large then it's not emptying - that may be a combination of things too. A blockage or impaction somewhere (all that fibrous material in your photo), swelling due to reproductive problems (the draining of fluid may help), could be worms or infection.

I would work on both ends - treat her for sour and impacted crop and continue to offer supportive care for the fluid as well. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

Shaking the head can be an attempt at adjusting the crop when there's a problem there.

 

[nestleaver1]

No it's easy I only have 6 hens. All naughty...she is back to full perkiness now all good! Thanks for replies much appreciated!

 

[nestleaver1]

No not crop. Gizzard. Can feel it on underside it contracts hard but normally can only just find it. This seems a little distended maybe. Intestinal shedding I thought possible but why? It's a lot... crop def OK.

 

[nestleaver1]

She had full crop a couple of weeks ago just for one morning. I check them all as they come out of the coop. Resolved quickly but maybe related?

 

[SulkyBantam]

She had full crop a couple of weeks ago just for one morning. I check them all as they come out of the coop. Resolved quickly but maybe related?

I don't think so but you never know. Keep an eye on it.​