Roundworms... please help!

[annecreates]

I am new to keeping chickens (and to this forum!), so thanks in advance for your help!

I have a small flock of red sexton hens (4) with one rooster (supposedly a Sumatra, but looks more like a Maran). When I let them out of their coop yesterday, I discovered a fresh pile of poop with lots of roundworms.... not a fantastic way to start a Saturday, to say the least

I've read in my "raising chickens for dummies" book that I need piperazine to get rid of these, but have no clue how much.... a google search directed me to a conversation in this forum which mentions other drugs. I have no idea what is best or safe for my chickens.

They get organic feed, fresh water, and a small amount of scratch with a bit of oyster shell and flax seed daily.

I contain their droppings from roosting into bins under the roost, and clean these out once or twice a week. They are only in the coop at night, and they are contained in a large run during the day. At first, they were allowed to free range while we were home, but an attack by an unleashed rottweiler from next door stopped that

We put up the run soon after.

In general, I'm feeling like a bad chicken mommy for now having chickens with worms

Any advice is appreciated!

 

[Florachick]

Hi, I'm not an expert, most of my knowledge has been gleaned on this forum, there are some great experts on here. But like all experts, opinions differ. I have had a small flock for 3 years and mine have always free ranged. At first I followed the 'if it aint broke,don't fix it' system and used things like natural yoghurt and ACV to keep their systems generally healthy. Then I read that some people worm twice a year, worms or no worms. So I started to use a 'natural' wormer once a month as a sort of in between measure. Then one of my hens got sick and like you I found evidence of worms in their poops. If its that bad they have quite a severe case. It is easy for them to pick them up, considering what they eat, snails and earthworms, which mine love, will carry the eggs and they are exposed all the time unless kept in doors. It is a continous cycle, that's how parasites thrive.
My vet gave me a 'proper' wormer and I have used it twice a year since. The worms aren't necessarily going to really hurt them, but can interfere with proper absorption of the nutrients from their food and a heavy load will of course have some effect on their general wellbeing. I don't like using these things, but I want to do the best by my girls so have resigned myself to it. If you have a heavy infestation and use a strong wormer, so I've read, a build up of dead worms inside is not good for them either.
Please understand I am not an expert. I've read these things on here, but from what I've read and put into practice my girls seem to be thriving.
My vet prescribed Flubenovet (I'm in England, so you probably have it under another name). If you follow the instructions it should clear them up. It works for tapeworm and gapeworm, which were the 2 that really freaked me out, roundworms are not such a big deal, in comparison. Then twice a year if you want to keep them clear.

 

[annecreates]

Thanks for your response! I have a neighbor with a large flock, so I will ask him what he does, too. Do you discard eggs for a period of time during the worming process?

 

[TwoCrows]

The most gentle way to worm chickens is with "Wazine". It is a safe wormer and will take care of round worms. It is put in the water and used for only one day. It is not too toxic to the chicken, and paralyzes the worms and the chicken expells them thru the poo.

There are other natural wormers out there, however I am not sure how well they work.

Oh, and if you are using chemicals to worm them, do not eat the eggs for about one month.

 

[annecreates]

Thanks for the advice! If you use Wazine, how long do you need to wait until you can eat the eggs again? And where do you purchase this, how much do you use, etc?

 

[dawg53]

Natural wormers may help prevent, but wont treat. Chemical wormers are needed to rid the parasites from your chickens. One roundworm can lay tens of thousands of eggs to be shed onto the ground, only to be picked up by your other chickens to start the worms lifecycle all over again, shedding more eggs. They not only reproduce, but also scar the digestive intestinal wall causing decreased nutrient absorption. Attached worms steal the nutrients literally starving your chicken to death. That's when they become lethargic, dont eat or drink, listless, stop laying eggs...then eventually death. One worm is one worm too many.
Annecreates...here's what your chickens innards currently look like:

 

[annecreates]

Well, that's pretty much what the poop looked like. Pretty gross... although I'm in the medical field and can handle pretty much anything. I have to say I was speechless for a time after seeing that, though.

So, what's the best treatment, then? And how long are the eggs toxic after treating?

 

[dawg53]

Wazine dosage is one ounce per gallon of water. Put it out first thing in the morning before you let your chickens out. They will drink the treated water once you let them out. Leave it out for 24 hours straight, then discard and replace with regular freshwater. There is a 14 day egg withdrawal. Personally I dont use wazine anymore because there is no guarantee they will drink the water or drink enough of it to be effective. I prefer to dose orally with valbazen or safeguard, that way I KNOW they are getting properly wormed.
Ten days later, redose your chickens with a broad spectrum wormer. There are many types of worms that chickens can get. Wazine only gets rid of large roundworms. I recommend in ten days you dose them with valbazen liquid cattle/sheep wormer or safeguard equine paste or safeguard liquid goat wormer. These wormers will kill many types of worms. They each also have a 14 day withdrawal.

 

[annecreates]

OK. So I guess I'm making a trip to my local small town feed store.... I hope they have everything I need. How do I use Safeguard? So I can also expect to go without eggs for about a month. *sigh* I've got a lot to learn.

 

[annecreates]

thanks for your advice, dawg!