Lack of eggs and then strange poo

[mkilbury]

Hello, I am new chicken owner and new the the site as well. It has been really helpful thus far and my family and I love having chickens. We have one bantam rock hen, who was laying when we got her, now she is not. We also have one bantam D'uccle and one silkie. The three are getting along great and have been since we got them at the chicken swap about one month ago. The hen is the older of the three and was laying when we got her, the other two have not started yet and are younger. About 10 days ago the hen quit laying and became lethargic. I thought she was getting broody or sitting on an egg in the coop but this has not been the case. She will not access the run or the backyard unless i get her out of the coop and she complains about that. A few days ago, I got her out of the coop, she ate like mad and then had a huge poop (pictured). It looks like maybe she has round worms. I am guessing I need to go to the local feed store or vet and look into a medication to treat her? I was attributing her lethargy to the recent change in weather here in Portland, it went from nice and sunny to cold and rainy and I too would rather stay inside. The other two chickens are acting fine however. Any advice out there?



Much thanks,

Michael

 

[Judy]

Personally, I would give them Valbazen, 0.5 ml per bird orally to be repeated in 10 days. It is relatively easy on their system and kills virtually all types of worms. I put the dose on a small piece of bread and give it to them individually, aat dusk, when it's easiest to get hold of them, and keep track, for me. You can also squrt the dose into the side of their beak. You can't add it to their water.

That does indeed look like ther are roundworms present, though one pic is not definitive, of course. Here are a couple of resources on worms:


https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ll-seeing-live-worms-in-poo/0_20#post_9315842

http://healthybirds.umd.edu/Disease/Deworming Birds.pdf

 

[mkilbury]

Thanks for the info. and the links, very helpful. I will continue reading the related threads and then dose the chickens with valbazen as you reccommend. My guess is that the younger birds I purchased had not been wormed and they passed on the worms to the older bird, but not really sure. Sounds like a preventative worming schedule is a good idea as well.