Roundworms (hematope) treatment and egg withdrawal?

[Rick&Chris]

My girls have had messy butts, not diarrhea but poop on their butt feathers. To be safe I took a sample for a fecal float test to a vet (not a poultry vet, but they do see exotics and birds). They said they found ONE roundworm (hematope) and had to look hard for it.

He is recommending Panacur but hasn't given me a dosage since we don't know the weight of my 10 girls. He said it has to be given to eat bird individually - sounds like a daunting task! I fear they will aspirate it!

My questions are:

1. Is Panacur the only option?

2. What is the egg withdrawal and can the eggs be fed back to the chickens?

3. Is there anything I can give in the water to all of them at once?

4. Do I have to clean out my enclosed run of all wood chips or can I hose everything down to kill the roundworms left behind?

My girls are 7.5 months old, all eating, drinking and laying fine with the exception of a handful of recent soft eggs and two laid without a shell.

Thanks in advance, my go to peeps for all things chicken!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

My girls have had messy butts, not diarrhea but poop on their butt feathers. To be safe I took a sample for a fecal float test to a vet (not a poultry vet, but they do see exotics and birds). They said they found ONE roundworm (hematope) and had to look hard for it.

He is recommending Panacur but hasn't given me a dosage since we don't know the weight of my 10 girls. He said it has to be given to eat bird individually - sounds like a daunting task! I fear they will aspirate it!

My questions are:

1. Is Panacur the only option?

2. What is the egg withdrawal and can the eggs be fed back to the chickens?

3. Is there anything I can give in the water to all of them at once?

4. Do I have to clean out my enclosed run of all wood chips or can I hose everything down to kill the roundworms left behind?

My girls are 7.5 months old, all eating, drinking and laying fine with the exception of a handful of recent soft eggs and two laid without a shell.

Thanks in advance, my go to peeps for all things chicken!

If you vet is recommending a product, then he should be able to answer most of those questions for you.

Have your vet show you how to give oral medications or you may find this helpful.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...er-construction-check-back-for-updates.73335/
No time like the present to learn how to handle birds and give care. Once you do a few, you will gain confidence.

That said...Panacur is Fenbendazole and is commonly used to treat worms in chickens.
Since it is not labeled for use in poultry, you will need to ask your vet or do your owns research for withdrawal times.

Wazine (piperazine) can be given in the water. It only treats roundworms. The thing about using medication that goes in the water, the bird has to drink enough for it to be effective. Ask your vet about that and do some research for egg withdrawal periods as well.

Valbazen (albendazole) is another broad spectrum wormer. You would give it once, then repeat in 10 days. It is given by weight as well. Again, research withdrawal times.

It would probably be good to refresh your litter.

What do you feed - do you provide oyster shell free choice? While it's not that uncommon for a new layer to have a soft shell egg - if all of them are having the same trouble, re-evaluating food/space/housing/environment would be a good idea.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/vm015
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/aa078
https://articles.extension.org/pages/66279/internal-parasites-of-poultry

 

[Rick&Chris]

If you vet is recommending a product, then he should be able to answer most of those questions for you.

Have your vet show you how to give oral medications or you may find this helpful.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...er-construction-check-back-for-updates.73335/
No time like the present to learn how to handle birds and give care. Once you do a few, you will gain confidence.

That said...Panacur is Fenbendazole and is commonly used to treat worms in chickens.
Since it is not labeled for use in poultry, you will need to ask your vet or do your owns research for withdrawal times.

Wazine (piperazine) can be given in the water. It only treats roundworms. The thing about using medication that goes in the water, the bird has to drink enough for it to be effective. Ask your vet about that and do some research for egg withdrawal periods as well.

Valbazen (albendazole) is another broad spectrum wormer. You would give it once, then repeat in 10 days. It is given by weight as well. Again, research withdrawal times.

It would probably be good to refresh your litter.

What do you feed - do you provide oyster shell free choice? While it's not that uncommon for a new layer to have a soft shell egg - if all of them are having the same trouble, re-evaluating food/space/housing/environment would be a good idea.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/vm015
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/aa078
https://articles.extension.org/pages/66279/internal-parasites-of-poultry

Thank you! This is great info. Unfortunately the vet I saw today is not familiar with chickens so I thought it best to ask here.

Only one hen has a messy butt, the others aren’t as bad. Should I treat the whole flock? I took 3 samples and they found only one small roundworm.

Regarding the eggs, I have 10 girls and average 7-8 eggs/day.

Regarding the wood chips in the run, should I remove everything and start over or just rinse and add more? I rake/turn it once a week.

Sorry for all the questions, I’m a newbie.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I would worm everyone.
Well, you will never get rid of all the worm eggs, so turn and add new.

 

[Rick&Chris]

I read online that ‘all chickens have worms’ - is finding one small one a concern?

 

[Rick&Chris]

Vet just called back and said pyrantel is suggested and I should dose each bird, one day egg withdrawal and treat again every 10 days for a couple of months, that these are hard to get rid of? Then I read that ‘all chickens have worms’ and not to do anything, but treat naturally.

Appreciate your thoughts and input!