Help! I found worms in my chickne poop!

[NewChick7]

i jistbam so upset!!! I have about 60 chickens. I clean their poop boards once a week or week and half. Their nest boxes are always clean. I found two 2-4 inch worms in two dropping of poop on the poop board. I am so upset right now. I've researched worms in chickens and it seems like a never ending battle because the worms can lay many eggs and can come out in their poop and then the chickens can peck and the poop and the cycle starts all over again!!! I am so grossed out I just can't even!! I've had my birds for two years and this is the first time anythingnhas come about. I guess if I was smart I would have been deworming them every six months like I've read. Today I gave them Pig Swig. This Works for round worms and nodule worms I believe. Then I was going to order some Valbazen. I am so grossed out right now. I don't want my kids going anywhere near the chickens. I don't even know how about to go cleaning their poop boards. Im scared we will track something into our house on the carpet. I'm not sure if all of them have it. Some of their poop looks like this. See below.

 

[IZZYBELLA]

I was so grossed out when I found my first round worm, too, so I totally understand the angst behind this post! It's good you haven't been unnecessarily de-worming them. That can make the worms resistant to the medications. Good job identifying the worm now and starting treatment. I know it seems like a never ending battle, but as someone who without fail has to treat spring and fall, it really isn't all that bad. (I don't know how some people never have problems!)

I only have 13 chickens, so I wait until they are roosted and then grab them one by one and give them Valbazen. I hold the bird and prop their beak open and my husband squirts in the dose. That would be quite a chore with 60 chickens, though!

As for kids... hand sanitation! Also, I don't wear my coop boots beyond a specific floor mat in our mudroom. Maybe institute a similar policy?

Good luck!

 

[NewChick7]

I'll do 60 chickens if I have too! Lol!! Good idea on the shoes not going past the coop!!! Would you recommend me cleaning their entire coop top to bottom? Get the old hay put new hay in? Bleaching the poop boards? I'm am just beyond horrified. Lmao.

 

[IZZYBELLA]

Haha! I was the exact same way! I was SO freaked out! Wait until a few days after you have done the first Valbazen treatment and then clean out and put in fresh hay. (For a few days after the first treatment you may see a bunch of worms come out in the droppings, which is why I wait.) I also do a clean out after the second Valbazen treatment. You've got this! ;-) Hopefully someone else with a larger flock than mine can give you advice on treatments... it's easy for me to say to clean the coop, but mine is probably tiny compared to yours!

 

[NewChick7]

THanksnso much for your info and kind words! That all makes sense! One quick more question. Does the Valbazen dewormer have a long shelf life? I can't seem to find that answer anywhere.

 

[coach723]

My last bottle purchased had a expiration date about 2 years out. If you decide on a source you may be able to call them and get the expiration date for what you will get.
Also, you can help prevent outbreaks by keeping things reasonably clean and not letting droppings build up, but the eggs survive in the environment for a very long time, so completely eliminating them is not really possible. Some people can worm once or twice a year and that's enough to keep them under control, some need to do more, every flock is different. You will have to experiment to see what works for your flock. If you have a vet that will do a fecal float test for you (or if not, use one of the mail in services) then I'd suggest after 6 months or so after you treat them this time, have the fecal done and see if any parasites are present. If you see worms, or symptoms that may indicate worms before that, then do it then.

 

[IZZYBELLA]

THanksnso much for your info and kind words! That all makes sense! One quick more question. Does the Valbazen dewormer have a long shelf life? I can't seem to find that answer anywhere.

Mine was about 2 years, too.