Meriks or vitamin b definceny

[Peoples]

She is still laying and last lay yesterday. I have never dewormed and not sure what I would need to do it.

 

[rebrascora]

I’d still like to ask if the chickens have been dewormed?

I would not recommend worming a bird that may have Marek's unless a worm infestation has been identified, so I would recommend getting a faecal float test done by a vet or mail order if you feel worms may be an issue, but looking at that poop picture I would not be overly concerned about internal parasites at this stage.

Edited to add that the reason I would not recommend it is that the wormer can upset the delicate balance of the gut and that can be enough to tip the balance against them.

 

[Peoples]

Ok. This morning when I pulled her out and was changing her pad I found this. Is this a worm? She was in grass yesterday eating both dry and green grass. This AM when I took her out of cage she was Simi standing.

 

[WVduckchick]

I also wouldn’t treat for both worms and Mareks at the same time, but would she still be laying if it’s mareks? I don’t necessarily think it’s worms either, and treating as if it’s mareks won’t hurt. But we have no proof of what exactly is the problem.

 

[WVduckchick]

Ok. This morning when I pulled her out and was changing her pad I found this. Is this a worm? She was in grass yesterday eating both dry and green grass. This AM when I took her out of cage she was Simi standing.

Yes that’s a worm.

 

[Peoples]

Do worms lead to paraylsis or leg weakening and what do I do? Do I treat the Mericks or do I deworm. If I deworm what do I use?

 

[WVduckchick]

That looks like a roundworm to me, which can be treated with Wazine, which is readily available at tractor supply and such.

But I’m not a worm expert (nor a mareks expert) so do a little more research or wait for someone more experienced. @casportpony @R2elk are my go-to worm folks.

 

[Peoples]

Do worms lead to paraylsis or leg weakening and what do I do? Do I treat the Mericks or do I deworm. If I deworm what do I use?

@rebrascora @WVduckchick

 

[WVduckchick]

I would definitely shift to treating the worms before concluding mareks disease. Do you agree Rebrascora? I didn’t mean to derail, but the worm is definitely present.

Here is a recent thread about deworming with lots of good product pictures and helpful instructions. @EggSighted4Life may also be able to help here.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/using-bread-when-deworming.1248416/

 

[rebrascora]

but would she still be laying if it’s mareks?

Yes I have had Marek's birds with neurological symptoms still lay eggs.

I agree that is a round worm. Almost all chickens will have worms.... otherwise people would not deworm them. It is my belief, from my experience, that healthy chickens' immune systems are able to keep their worm load low in certain circumstances and climates and that deworming them can upset that balance. That said, Marek's compromises the immune system, so an overgrowth is possible. A large worm infestation could possibly put pressure on a sciatic nerve and cause lameness but is very unlikely and a bird with such a huge worm burden would probably not still be laying eggs.
Since she has now passed a worm, it might be a good idea to worm her but I do not believe it is a worm infestation that is causing her problems but perhaps worms benefitting from her compromised immune system.
I will leave it to others to recommend a suitable wormer. Here in the UK we have different products.