Novice help required

[LDev]

Hi guys, as expected after just starting out with 2 rescue ex commercial hens, I am in need of advice. I was going to take some poo samples to get checked for parasites as a matter of course on Monday and especially after one of my rescues has been showing runny poo, not laying and a slightly dirty vent area. After reading some info on here, i thought in the meantime i would try some crushed garlic in their water. Hey presto, this morning i have a pile of mucusy poo with roundworms in it.......not only that from having just one egg a day from the healthier hen, today i have 3 eggs...1 normal, 1 discoloured with white on it, and one very very thin shelled. Is this all to do with the worm infection or do you reckon there could be other issues. They have started to get pinker combs, but the healthier hen still has white ears. They are also quite noisy today.

 

[realsis]

I think its the worms. you need to worm them with a wormer to get rid of all the worms and they will feel much better! I don't think a natural remedy will rid all the worms and eggs so I would get a wormer from the feed store. They will feel much better after being wormed! Hope this helps best wishes!

 

[LDev]

Yeah that's a given as I work in that field, ( not back at work till tomorrow so the garlic was a temporary help), going to get the parasite books out tomorrow and the guys in my lab are a fountain of knowledge although we specialise mostly in larger farm animals. i have only had the birds a very short while (just over a week) I think I was more concerned about the eggs. I know each egg takes around 24-26hours to be formed, obviously the garlic has shifted some parasites, but do you think the parasites are causing the eggs to be released too soon and therefore not be properly shelled? They have layers pellets and oyster shell, also have been getting calcium rich foods like broccoli, do they also need grit if they already have Oyster shell? Sorry for all the questions just want to do as much as I can to get them back on track

 

[LDev]

Identified the lovely nematodes infecting my girls as Ascaridia galli, a very large roundworm. They have now been treated with fenbendazole and will get another dose in 10 days time...i feel much happier that their treatment has begun and hopefully they will start to pick up quite soon and put a bit of weight on. Have supplemented their water with Apple cider vinegar and garlic and will do this as a matter of course to help improve their condition. They certainly enjoyed a wee grape treat when they got back from the vets