Help! What kind of worm is this in my chicken's poop?

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

Looks like a roundworm.

You can use Safeguard paste.
It's important to measure out and give the correct dose. You need to weigh a few of your birds too to make sure that you are giving the correct dose so treatment is effective.

For treatment of Roundworms only give the Safguard at a rate of 0.23ml per pound of weight orally once, then repeat in 10 days.
To treat other types of worms including roundworms but not tapeworms, give Safeguard at a rate of 0.23ml per pound of weight orally once a day for 5 days in a row.

Valbazen is a good dewormer too - when is it coming in? If very soon, you may want to just use that since you used Safeguard recently.
Valbazen dose is 0.08ml per pound of weight given orally once then repeat in 10 days.

For either the Safeguard or Valbazen give a direct oral dose to each bird. Syringe the medication into them first thing in the morning before they have had anything to eat.

It will likely be here mid-week. I had already used Safeguard yesterday afternoon via a little piece of bread. Sounds like I already botched that dose. Should I wait for Valbazen then? Originally I was thinking if, after this first safeguard dose, Valbazen in 10 days. Or to be safe, safeguard for 5 days and then Valbazen 10 after that. Now it sounds like I should just do Valbazen once when it gets here and again in 10 days.... since my first dose was moot anyway.

 

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

Looks like a roundworm.

You can use Safeguard paste.
It's important to measure out and give the correct dose. You need to weigh a few of your birds too to make sure that you are giving the correct dose so treatment is effective.

For treatment of Roundworms only give the Safguard at a rate of 0.23ml per pound of weight orally once, then repeat in 10 days.
To treat other types of worms including roundworms but not tapeworms, give Safeguard at a rate of 0.23ml per pound of weight orally once a day for 5 days in a row.

Valbazen is a good dewormer too - when is it coming in? If very soon, you may want to just use that since you used Safeguard recently.
Valbazen dose is 0.08ml per pound of weight given orally once then repeat in 10 days.

For either the Safeguard or Valbazen give a direct oral dose to each bird. Syringe the medication into them first thing in the morning before they have had anything to eat.

Also, is it normal to see worms in their poop after deworming? I saw that big dead one yesterday that was the red flag I needed to deworm, and this morning I found a smaller dead one. Not sure if that means the safeguard is or isn't working. It makes me panic each time--I've read seeing visible worms means the chicken is already overloaded and dying. But I can't tell which because they are all, thankfully, acting normal--red combs, loud, energetic, laying, eating, drinking, etc. Intermittent weird poops and the two poops with a visible worms are the only sign.

@jjatl

 

[Wyorp Rock]

It will likely be here mid-week. I had already used Safeguard yesterday afternoon via a little piece of bread. Sounds like I already botched that dose. Should I wait for Valbazen then? Originally I was thinking if, after this first safeguard dose, Valbazen in 10 days. Or to be safe, safeguard for 5 days and then Valbazen 10 after that. Now it sounds like I should just do Valbazen once when it gets here and again in 10 days.... since my first dose was moot anyway.

Sounds like they have a fairly heavy load, but it would be normal to see some worms expelled when you give a de-wormer.

Since you started the Safeguard (you gave the correct dose to each bird correct?) then I would either repeat it in 10 days for treatment of Roundworms only. Another option would be to give it for 5 days in a row and that should take care of the worms - but you want to give them the correct dose.

I would not follow up with the Valbazen - save that for the next time you need to de-worm them.

 

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

Th

Sounds like they have a fairly heavy load, but it would be normal to see some worms expelled when you give a de-wormer.

Since you started the Safeguard (you gave the correct dose to each bird correct?) then I would either repeat it in 10 days for treatment of Roundworms only. Another option would be to give it for 5 days in a row and that should take care of the worms - but you want to give them the correct dose.

I would not follow up with the Valbazen - save that for the next time you need to de-worm them.

That's the problem--I went with the vague "pea size" approach, each dosed on a small piece of bread around noon yesterday. I've since realized I was remiss in doing so. If anything, I think I might've overdosed. Thankfully they seem fine today.

It's late afternoon now, so not sure if I should dose again or just do the 10 day thing (and properly dose on the tenth day). Or, if I should start over again with Valbazen. Or use valbazen on the 10th to ensure all worms have been taken care of. Roundworms are visible but I can't be sure whether there are other worms.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Th

That's the problem--I went with the vague "pea size" approach, each dosed on a small piece of bread around noon yesterday. I've since realized I was remiss in doing so. If anything, I think I might've overdosed. Thankfully they seem fine today.

It's late afternoon now, so not sure if I should dose again or just do the 10 day thing (and properly dose on the tenth day). Or, if I should start over again with Valbazen. Or use valbazen on the 10th to ensure all worms have been taken care of. Roundworms are visible but I can't be sure whether there are other worms.

Up to you which one you use.
You could start tomorrow and just do the 5 days of Safeguard, forget the pea size dose you gave.
Or wait for the Valbazen and give the correct doses of that - 0.08ml per pound of weight orally once, then repeat in 10 days.

 

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

Up to you which one you use.
You could start tomorrow and just do the 5 days of Safeguard, forget the pea size dose you gave.
Or wait for the Valbazen and give the correct doses of that - 0.08ml per pound of weight orally once, then repeat in 10 days.

I think I'll go with Valbazen since I seem to have bad luck with safeguard (user error entirely).

Of course, the hen who I think has the overload is now presenting with clear bubbles in one eye, so I am frantically researching what that's about! Poor thing is going through a molt on top of everything. It never ends over here.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I think I'll go with Valbazen since I seem to have bad luck with safeguard (user error entirely).

Of course, the hen who I think has the overload is now presenting with clear bubbles in one eye, so I am frantically researching what that's about! Poor thing is going through a molt on top of everything. It never ends over here.

Have you ever had any chickens that had respiratory illness before?
Added any new birds lately?
If you can post some photos of her her that may help.
Bubbles in the eye can often be a symptom of Mycoplasma. If birds are carriers, then stress from molt, weather change, parasites, etc. could cause them to become symptomatic.
Flush her eye well with saline, see if there's debris in the eye that might be causing the bubbles just in case. If nothing like that, then I would apply an eye ointment like Terramycin in the eye. (flush and apply ointment 2-3 times a day) If you notice other symptoms - coughing/sneezing, mucous, etc., then an antibiotic like Tylosin may be needed to treat symptoms.

Here's your other thread.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/clear-bubbly-eye-and-head-shaking.1420669/

 

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

Have you ever had any chickens that had respiratory illness before?
Added any new birds lately?
If you can post some photos of her her that may help.
Bubbles in the eye can often be a symptom of Mycoplasma. If birds are carriers, then stress from molt, weather change, parasites, etc. could cause them to become symptomatic.
Flush her eye well with saline, see if there's debris in the eye that might be causing the bubbles just in case. If nothing like that, then I would apply an eye ointment like Terramycin in the eye. (flush and apply ointment 2-3 times a day) If you notice other symptoms - coughing/sneezing, mucous, etc., then an antibiotic like Tylosin may be needed to treat symptoms.

Here's your other thread.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/clear-bubbly-eye-and-head-shaking.1420669/

This is my first flock of seven, raised them from chicks. All of them are a little over 18 months old. No prior respiratory illnesses in the flock. They are all about to or are starting their first molt (the bubbly eyed one seems to be the next up to bat--she's the most visibly molting hen of ours). On top of the molt, I am working them through a bout of worms, and the weather is getting quite cooler. Triple whammy.

Upon letting them out of the coop this morning she no longer had bubbles in either of her eyes (it was only one side originally). So I'm hoping it was a fluke. No other respiratory symptoms or draining to indicate a cold, though in general I have noticed she shakes her head frequently.

When she came out of the coop, she ate a bit and took a normal poop in front of me. I guess I'll just continue to keep an eye on her.

Any good immune boosters I could use to help everyone through? I feel it's been a rough month for my girls...really, a rough few months.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She may have been pecked in the eye or got some debris in - let's hope! I would monitor her eyes for a few days. Generally with respiratory illness the bubbles and symptoms continue.

I'm not sure what type of troubles you have been having.
What do you feed including treats?

I'm not sure what you can do for immune boosters. @coach723 may have some suggestions.
I don't normally use any medications or supplements for the whole flock - I do use them sparingly for an individual that may be feeling poorly. Fresh feed, fresh plain water daily and a small treat most days is mainly what I do.

 

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

She may have been pecked in the eye or got some debris in - let's hope! I would monitor her eyes for a few days. Generally with respiratory illness the bubbles and symptoms continue.

I'm not sure what type of troubles you have been having.
What do you feed including treats?

I'm not sure what you can do for immune boosters. @coach723 may have some suggestions.
I don't normally use any medications or supplements for the whole flock - I do use them sparingly for an individual that may be feeling poorly. Fresh feed, fresh plain water daily and a small treat most days is mainly what I do.

Fingers crossed--I think that may have been what it was. She's been upbeat all day and acting fine. No more bubbles and eyes look bright/clear.

My troubles have been a cascade beginning in the summer. First, a couple months ago, my most beloved EE hen had a soft-shell egg break inside her, and we've been going through a long battle with EYP. She seems 100% better, and now I'm working on getting her transitioned back out with the others--but she is in a SERIOUS molt and very frightened of the other chickens. She prefers to hang out on my arm and will jump on me when she wants me to take her back inside.

Meanwhile we had an initial battle with suspected worms (all the girls were looking droopy mid-summer), then a long, drawn out battle with mites/lice that we finally won, and some issues with molting hens acting "off" in a vague way (droopier, eating less, a few soft-shell or broken egg incidents). Everyone seems okay now, though I'd been monitoring them due to some intermittent weird poops--watery, intestinal lining, whole strands of undigested grass--and that's when I found the roundworms. I'm now cleaning their runs of all poop every day to prevent the worm issue from taking off any further. Happy to report today's batch of poops have all looked normal.

The girls were recently switched to Purina flock raiser due to their molt and have been doing well on it. Oyster shell and grit is always out, free choice. I give them mealworms as a treat to lure them back into the coop during supervised free-ranging. Once in a while I make them a treat like a batch of soft scrambled eggs, some mash with crushed garlic or probiotics, or today, for example, a hunk of fresh pumpkin with chopped up seeds. Their diet is mainly feed, though. ACV in their water intermittently.

I think my anxiety has something to do with it. I tend to read too much into things and panic/react quickly. That's because: after my first 1.5 years of having chickens, I've learned--the hard way--that things can happen subtly, yet quickly (and it can become too late in a blink). I know that half our flock wouldn't be here had I not been watching them like a hawk and being proactive--which only fuels my constant worrying. And, in their first 1.5 years of life they have been through the gamut: heat stroke, mild-to-severe bumble foot, c. perfringens, lice/mites, worms, EYP & related crop issues, cracked beak, etc. They are troopers, and I have managed to pull them through these things, sometimes by the skin of my teeth. I always feel guilty they have so many issues, though! What am I doing wrong?