Possibly need to do a worming? How?

HappyPlace

Chirping
8 Years
Jul 31, 2011
130
4
93
Middle of the Mitten
I wrote about a week ago about a pullet that was droopy and overall just kind of blah. (https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/642848/droopy-hen#post_8681467)

She got better for about two days and she's suddenly back to blah... When I picked her up to give her a "check-up", she feels like she might have lost a few ounces. She also seems to have diarhea - there was yellow (like banana pudding colored) poo on her bum feathers. Her vent looks perfectly fine, no mites, fleas or cuts. She seems to be fine other than her actions/personality. It's kind of like watching a little old lady creep around the run. She seems to be cold, too, which I don't think helps her with whatever it is she's got.

I was searching through the forums to see what it MIGHT be, and I came across this thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ppetite-inactive-clear-watery-poo-new-symptom

I have a feeling this might be what's wrong with my girl. I did notice that some of my other pullets have slightly runny to diahrea poo as well. We have been getting a lot of rain/snow/wet ground lately, and though they don't usually eat them, my birds do peck at the worms quite a bit.
---------------

If I worm my whole flock, will it hurt them if they don't actually have worms? What about the fact that the pullets are all laying eggs?

I have 11 pullets (including a possible broody) and a cockeral in one pen and 7 cockerals in an adjacent pen. ALL are BANTAMS. What would anyone suggest??
 
I checked on my birds today, and I can give a little bit more info:

My pullet won't eat her pellets, but was a little enthusiastic about eating some grass. She did poo twice after eating; both times, it was very small (probably from her not eating) and did have a strong poo smell. Neither time was it runny. She did make it a little hard for me to catch her today and was a little quicker on her feet and was a little more willing to be near the other girls. She's still very droopy, though.

I don't know if this is a symptom as some of the other girls do it, too, but she kept shaking her head a lot. It was like she had a nervous twitch...

---------------

I looked up worming for bantams - and read through the threads you posted flockwatcher - and I think I've found that I have to do this:

Dose with Valbazen (Albendazole) oral. Since I have bantams, I give each bird 1/4 cc undiluted and can give it to them on a piece of bread - but I must make sure that each bird gets the right dose. After 10 days, I dose each bird again in the same way. From starting the medication until 14 days after the LAST dose, I have to throw out the eggs (24 days total). I can give them yogurt to help them. The chickens may act a little off after getting their dose.

Does this seem right? Will it hurt them to dose them if it turns out they don't have worms? I haven't seen any worms even now - should I be? Will I see evidence of worms in their poo after dosing them?

What can I do to ensure they won't get worms again? They stay in a covered pen. The ground is just dirt. Is there anything I can do to prevent this? Is there anything I should be doing after I dose them?

--------------

I'm sorry for all the questions. I'm just really concerned for my birds - especially this sick one. Even my roos are pets and I want to do right by them. ANY help is greatly appreciated.
 
Last edited:

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom