Hen has little white worms in her poop. What is it?

[backyardigans]

Thanks everyone!! I've been doing some reading on this, looking at old posts etc. and it really does sound like tapeworm. This is probably why the first round of wormer didn't get rid of it, my poor hen's been having this worm all winter long. I'm going to try to find the wormer mentioned, thanks.

My silkie probably has the worm, too. She has really reduced her laying (never been a good layer anyways) and seems to lay mostly soft shelled eggs. She has lots of access to oyster shells and yogurt, so I don't think it is a lack of calcium that's causing her problems.

I'll let you know how things work out...

 

[Smoky73]

You can also use Valbazen, it works for all types of worms including tapeworms. You can purchase it at www.firststatevetsupply.com

 

[Sandiejo13]

Do you know how fast the worms spread from chicken to chicken.

I was just watching my chickens by my window door and one of the hens pooped and I looked at it for a wile and some little worms started to move around in the poop and I started to get worried. And I am very attached to some of my chickens. I have even named them not all of them, so I don't want them to be sick.

And are these worms dangerous to the chickens?

 

[coach723]

There is no hard and fast rule on how fast worms can spread. They generally spread when the eggs are ingested by the bird through scratching and pecking the ground, or in some cases from ingesting an insect that carries them. The eggs can live for a very long time in the soil. And infected birds shed the eggs in their droppings, so that is how they continue to spread. Really depends on the worm load in your environment which can vary greatly place to place.
If you can post a picture of the worms it would help in getting them identified, or you can get a vet to identify them so that you treat appropriately. You will get more input if you start a new thread for this.
And generally yes, worms are bad for chickens. Depending on what kind they are they can cause weight loss, dehydration, general weakening of the bird leaving them open to other illnesses and infections, and in severe cases they can cause blockages.
It would be to your birds benefit that you identify and treat. I would worm the entire flock as seeing the worms from one means they have all been exposed, and you will not always see evidence in the droppings.