So I noticed for 2 days in a row that when I opened the coop door in the morning and filled the feeder, 10 of my birds run to the feeder (inside the coop) and one just goes out into the yard without eating. This is the same bird that had sour crop a few months ago. So today (2nd day of noticing no eating) I felt her crop and it was soft and squishy. I tipped her forward and the most disgusting fluid poured out (seemed like 1/2 a cup or more). I've done this before, so I was not alarmed. She's in a separate pen now with just water mixed with a little ACV.
However, when I tipped her up and she threw up, the other birds ran over and started pecking the ground in her throw-up. Before I could get her in a separate kennel, the girls had really pecked through the throw up (ewww). I noticed when I tipped the bird that she slung some of the throw up on me, and in it was a white worm with a red head, about 3/4 of an inch long with segmented body (I'm guessing tapeworm). I think it was inside her crop and I think that's what the other chickens were eating off the ground. I just went out and drained her again (3-4 hours after the first draining) and a few more 1/2 inch segments of worm came out in the drainage.
Is this common? Did the tapeworms cause the sour crop, or is it just 2 different problems that, by chance, happened at the same time? And will I have to use a chemical/medication to treat them, or can I use something natural like ACV and/or plain yogurt? Should I be concerned with the tapeworms first, or should I cure the sour crop, which can take days, and then medicate or treat for the tapeworms? ANd will I have to treat the rest of the flock too? How long will I have to wait before eating the eggs (I've read 1 week to 2 weeks)? What medications (if any) would you guys recommend?
However, when I tipped her up and she threw up, the other birds ran over and started pecking the ground in her throw-up. Before I could get her in a separate kennel, the girls had really pecked through the throw up (ewww). I noticed when I tipped the bird that she slung some of the throw up on me, and in it was a white worm with a red head, about 3/4 of an inch long with segmented body (I'm guessing tapeworm). I think it was inside her crop and I think that's what the other chickens were eating off the ground. I just went out and drained her again (3-4 hours after the first draining) and a few more 1/2 inch segments of worm came out in the drainage.
Is this common? Did the tapeworms cause the sour crop, or is it just 2 different problems that, by chance, happened at the same time? And will I have to use a chemical/medication to treat them, or can I use something natural like ACV and/or plain yogurt? Should I be concerned with the tapeworms first, or should I cure the sour crop, which can take days, and then medicate or treat for the tapeworms? ANd will I have to treat the rest of the flock too? How long will I have to wait before eating the eggs (I've read 1 week to 2 weeks)? What medications (if any) would you guys recommend?
