Never seen worms like this before

[aart]

though soft and white, about 1/2" long and maybe 2mm in width, round-bodied, no legs.

Like thousands of types of insect larvae.

I am just puzzled

I am too.
There is a way to ID them. But you need very close and clear photos of both mouth and hind end.
There are insect ID groups on Facebook that have some very experienced advisors.

I think you can be pretty confident that the larvae did not come from inside your birds.

 

[Chickeria]

There was someone else recently posting about worms/maggots in a water bowl of a chicken. The worms/maggots looked pretty similar. I will look if I can find the other thread and will post the link if.

 

[Chickeria]

There was someone else recently posting about worms/maggots in a water bowl of a chicken. The worms/maggots looked pretty similar. I will look if I can find the other thread and will post the link if.

This one: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/help-worms-in-chickens-water-bowl.1441629/

 

[aart]

There was someone else recently posting about worms/maggots in a water bowl of a chicken. The worms/maggots looked pretty similar. I will look if I can find the other thread and will post the link if.

I remember that.....IIRC no conclusion was drawn.

 

[Chickeria]

I remember that.....IIRC no conclusion was drawn.

Yes, you are right, there was no conclusion. I think it is interesting the larvae were in both cases in the water bowl. I have seen a lot of worms, maggots and larvae over time, but never in water bowls and never in such cold temperatures. From my experience they need warmer temperatures and they drown in water. I have no idea what those in both of the threads could be

 

[Aapomp831]

Wherever they came from, they did NOT come from inside your chickens.

 

[journey11]

Those in that thread look just like the ones I found. Fungus gnat larvae look very similar, but these are about twice the size. Wet conditions would lean toward something similar. I hope it's not a biting, blood-sucking fly. I could have put some under the microscope if I hadn't stomped on them, lol. I'll just have to pay closer attention to the birds for now.

 

[NCBonnie]

Yes, you are right, there was no conclusion. I think it is interesting the larvae were in both cases in the water bowl. I have seen a lot of worms, maggots and larvae over time, but never in water bowls and never in such cold temperatures. From my experience they need warmer temperatures and they drown in water. I have no idea what those in both of the threads could be

And it was mentioned the water bowl is heated. Sounds to me like the environment under and immediately around the bowl may be prime for flying insect egg laying.

 

[rebeccaH86]

Fungus gnat larve maybe ? Hard to tell from the photo

 

[aart]

I could have put some under the microscope if I hadn't stomped on them, lol.
I'll just have to pay closer attention to the birds for now.

Could also put some in a jar in a warm place to see what they morph into.