roundworms in chicks

[fishman65]

I just got 8 white bantam silkies, they are 5 days old. I noticed today roundworms in there poop. I have wazine17 but it is for 4-6 week old
chickens. can i give them some or are they to small. also how much in water do they get?

 

[threehorses]

Quote:
I doubt those were roundworms at 5 days old. Likely they were very newly hatched maggots. Do not worm these babies. It takes several days for ingested worms to get to the point where babies would shed them in their droppings.

Instead, change the bedding, give them all probiotics, hang up some fly bags to keep the fly population down (I recommend Fly Relief bags by Farnam - they smell the least bag and, unlike the ones that come with a little dry sachet in the bag, they don't leak).

 

[fishman65]

not sure what they are but they are not maggots. they are about 3/4 inch to 2 1/2 inches long and they are a light orange color almost clear. they mush real easy. poop is very wet. will hold off on wormer until i know what exactly i got if anything.

 

[purpletree23]

You have 3/4 inch to 2 1/2 inch worms coming out of the chicks? And the chicks are 5 days old?

 

[threehorses]

Are these birds in a brooder or on the ground?

What shape are they exactly?

By the way if the droppings are very wet, be sure they're on shavings (not dirt), in a brooder the right temperature for their age, their conditions are very dry, and their feeders/waterers are dry.

Give them all yogurt at least or another probiotic daily for a week to help with the droppings, but we're probably going to need more info. Something else is going on I suspect.

 

[fishman65]

they are on paper towels over wood and wire. No shavings. the temp is 95. there droppings are wet and look weird. looks like some kind of worm but not 100%. they squish real easy. they have water and chick starter.
They are active chasing bugs that fly into the brooder and chirp normally.
will keep close eye on them and give yogurt and see if it helps.

 

[threehorses]

Ohhh you know what - I bet that's coccidiosis mucus! Coccidiosis can make stringy rusty colored bits. I've seen it look like that before - I don't know why I didn't think about it.

Is their starter medicated with amprolium? If it's not, still do the yogurt for all for the diarrhea and treat with Corid (not sulmet), the 'treatment strength' amprolium, which you can find in the swine/cattle section of the feedstore. It's not antibiotic, so if it's not the problem-fixer it won't hurt them. If it IS the solution, you will save some babies. They're at an age where you could and should probably switch them to shavings now by the way - make sure everything is good and dry.

They've probably just "met" cocci and are fighting it but not lethargic yet. Which is the perfect time to treat.

 

[fishman65]

they are on med feed with ampro. thank you very much!!! was concerned but not worried. first time with silkies and poop just did'nt look right. they are so small and light i am worried they will blow away when i open the brooder. will start yogurt in am just to firm up there gut load. Learn something new every day. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!

 

[threehorses]

Quote:
Well good about the medicated feed. Just know that the medication in the feed is NOT enough to treat actual coccidiosis - so I would still use Corid in addition to the meds in the feed.

The meds in the feed are a strength that is supposed to just allow some exposure to coccidiosis so that the birds can develop their own immunity. But sometimes the challenges are greater than the feed can handle and actual coccidiosis developes. If you don't see great improvement in the droppings in one day on the yogurt I would definitely do Corid immediately,. Coccidiosis is a killer in babies, if that's what it is - which it does sound like it.

Well this has been interesting!

You've actually taught me something today - to remember that things aren't always as they seem. Thank YOU!

 

[fishman65]

no corid anywhere, not even generic. called over 15 feed stores and nobody has it, two even said they no longer make it. so much for knowledgeble salesmen.I do have sulmet can i not just give them that. they are eating probiotics but they really don't like it. They have more fun running through it. still happy and energetic. for now.