Poo that looks like chocolate syrup

[gritsar]

Quote:
Seems a little ironic that when we try to describe the poop, we always resort to food analogies...lol. I'll have to look closer to see whether it's more like chocolate syrup or chocolate pudding...
Gritsar - does it have to be a bird/specialty vet, or can any vet check the fecal sample???

Any vet can do a fecal float. All it takes is a microscope. You want to collect a random sample by taking a small portion from several different deposits.

 

[TipsyDog]

Quote:
Seems a little ironic that when we try to describe the poop, we always resort to food analogies...lol. I'll have to look closer to see whether it's more like chocolate syrup or chocolate pudding...
Gritsar - does it have to be a bird/specialty vet, or can any vet check the fecal sample???

I'm still on a diet - so everything looks like chocolate to me lately...

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
Ask for a, "fecal egg count," not just a, "fecal."

Here is a copy from an old thread, written by threehorses. Hope this helps:

If you see roundworms, then there's a strong infestation. You will rarely ever see worms in the droppings otherwise. Not even if they have a medium infestation.

For Wazine 17 (piperazine 17%) you use one ounce wazine per one gallon of water. Or two measuring spoon Tablespoons of wazine per one gallon. Give as their sole source of water for 24 hours. Then remove from the coop. Retreat in 14 days with wazine, or consider treating them with a more broad spectrum wormer like fenbendazole, levamisole, or ivermectin.

My personal feeling on worms differs slightly from that of Damerow. I feel that it's best to worm twice annually and decrease the possibility of illness in the flock. My first worming I use wazine and then during the necessary re-dose (you must always repeat piperazine worming) use the stronger wormer. Then I use the stronger wormer twice annually for those birds thereafter.

New birds in the flock go through the wazine then stronger regimine unless they're chicks. I worm chicks at four months with ivermectin and put them in rotation with the adults for twice yearly.

Parasites literally scar the digestive tract as they burrow into it. Each scar in the digestive tract is one more place where nutrients can't absorb. I highly disagree that this is the way to go. I also disagree with constant worming (unless there are constant infestations, and then there's a problem with the caretaking.)

Additionally, worms decrease the immune system of birds, steal the nutrients, irritate the digestive tract, make the bird more susceptible to other digestive tract illnesses by stressing the good bacteria of the gut, increase incidences of coccidiosis (even in adults), and spread to healthy birds.

I totally believe in ecological balance, but in moderation. If you wait til you see worms, you're waiting too long.

The ideal way of doing things would be to test three or four random birds in a flock using a "fecal egg count" from a vet to see if you need to worm two or three times a year. That way it's less invasive and lets you know when to treat. For someone trained in that, it would be the best way. Or if you have a good vet who will let you just bring in a few fecal samples and charge you for that, not the visit.

p.s. (added shortly after) I was trained in doing fecals when i worked as a vet tech for a while. Honestly, I'm thinking that the equipment to do that again is going to be my "Christmas present" this year.

Alternatively, there are places online to which you can send fecal samples if you're interested. Foy's offers the service. (Call ahead to make sure they do fecals for poultry): http://www.foyspigeonsupplies.com/catalog/8000.html I believe there are other places online, too.

 

[Emzyyy]

Robin'sBrood :

^ And the stinkiest!

NUH UH! BROODY POOS! are the stinkiest!!