Need help identifying a worm!! Can't find anything that looks like it.

[SilkieNation]

I found a worm on my hen's poop. Seemed to be the only one and I can't find a picture that looks like it. Is this a poultry worm or something that 'hopped' up on the poop right after she dropped it? If I don't know what kind of worm it is, I don't know what to use for treatment. The poop looks a bit off too, although it was more formed before I looked around in it. I'd say she was a bit off too today, although that might be my imagination.

I only have four chickens right now. They do free range while I'm out with them, but they are in their very clean run most of the day.

I would REALLY appreciate some help here!!

 

[centrarchid]

Looks like in cecal poo. Segmentation is very well developed. Does not look like tapeworms I am familiar with as your example has more discrete head region.

 

[SilkieNation]

Looks like in cecal poo. Segmentation is very well developed. Does not look like tapeworms I am familiar with as your example has more discrete head region.

Thanks for your response! I looked up cecal worms and they are apparently white. Perhaps I'll look for more pictures. This thing was reddish, less than 1/4 inch long and although I could not see the segments even with my glasses on, my great phone camera clearly shows them. It wasn't a tape worm - got that bugger down from rescuing cats. Don't believe it was a round worm. I''m having a gross out even with one worm...

So, I ordered valbazen as this seems to be what people recommend - $43!! I only have 4 silkies right now! That's 1 ml leaving me with 499... I've also read to dose with wazine first to kill round worms and prevent an overload of dead worms and blockage. I don't think they have round worms. Any idea if I should give them the wazine just in case?

 

[SilkieNation]

Thanks for your response! I looked up cecal worms and they are apparently white. Perhaps I'll look for more pictures. This thing was reddish, less than 1/4 inch long and although I could not see the segments even with my glasses on, my great phone camera clearly shows them. It wasn't a tape worm - got that bugger down from rescuing cats. Don't believe it was a round worm. I''m having a gross out even with one worm...

So, I ordered valbazen as this seems to be what people recommend - $43!! I only have 4 silkies right now! That's 1 ml leaving me with 499... I've also read to dose with wazine first to kill round worms and prevent an overload of dead worms and blockage. I don't think they have round worms. Any idea if I should give them the wazine just in case?

Oh - you did mean cecal poo, didn't you. I looked up poos and yes, it did look like cecal poo. Still, the worm is a mystery to be solved.

 

[lazy gardener]

I don't believe it is a parasitic worm. Though I could be wrong. Why don't you send a pic off to your agricultural county cooperative extension agent???

 

[centrarchid]

Looks a lot like a fly larvae of some sort.

 

[SilkieNation]

It did just seem to appear (now that I've spent a fortune on falbazine, or whatever that stuff is called (not what I called it...) and even paid for priority shipping in my panic). I don't know about a fly larvae? Are they so segmented and reddish? I always think of your classic maggot - white, little black heads. But, there are all kinds of larvae. Maybe I'll hold off on the worming. I hate to mess with their systems if I don't have to. I'll send the pic to my agricultural extension guys and see what they have to say. In 9-10 years I've never had a worm! I was TOTALLY grossed out by some, no, all of the pictures I viewed. I can't believe how infested some birds can get. I just hope those images don't find their way into my dreams. Thank you so much for your input!

 

[centrarchid]

Get a picture of critter isolated from feces.

Fly larvae can be all over the place morphologically. Compare Housefly maggot to a Black Soldier Fly to mosquito.

 

[SilkieNation]

Get a picture of critter isolated from feces.

Fly larvae can be all over the place morphologically. Compare Housefly maggot to a Black Soldier Fly to mosquito.

Hmm...critter is no more. I looked at pictures of the maggots suggested - I really don't think it was a maggot - it was very worm like in it's movement, thin, stretching - the picture doesn't do it's characteristics well actually - except for the segmentation. I'm going to try to figure out how to send the pic to the ag ext. today. More disgusting pictures to start my day

 

[Cknldy]

Meal worm? I've seen larvae like that in the soil.