Safeguard and blackhead prevention in peachicks

[Phage]

Does anyone know if Safeguard as a wormer is sufficient for prevention of blackhead in peachicks?

If it is not what can be used?

I have 4 chickens and am about to let my first few peachicks, now 3 months old, on the ground.
Thanks

 

[chickenzoo]

Safeguard is Panacure. It is used as a preventive for Blackhead disease for peafowl and turkey. It is suppose to break down the cecal wall that other wormers do not. I use the goat form because it is a liquid and a little easier to dose. I have had Phenoix roos with my Peafowl many times with no problems, but I don't house my young peachicks with any until they are almost grown, just as a precaution.

 

[verthandi]

How young are you worming your peachicks? New to peafowl world and curious.

 

[NCIndiaBlue]

I use Safeguard for my Peafowl, Turkey's and Chicken's. I have had no problem having them together. I started worming my peachicks the day their feet touched the ground, and then every month for the first 8 months - then once every three months once they reach 9 months old. I also use Medicated Game Bird Starter and Medicated Game Bird Grower for the Peafowl and Turkey's. The breeder I got my peachicks from alternates between Safeguard and Wazine. I have so far just used Safeguard, because I don't think Wazine is very comprehensive. I will be alternating monthly with Safeguard one month and Ivomec then next month.

 

[NCIndiaBlue]

Quote:
I moved mine from a cage/pen with a raised wire floor, to a larger pen at 3 months old. I started worming them the day I put them on the ground. They are doing great and appear to be very healthy and happy.

 

[featherhead]

Blackhead is an infection - it is not caused by worms and can't be treated with a wormer like SafeGuard.

Blackhead requires an antibiotic. The most commonly used is metronidazole (flagyl), which will usually kick it pretty quickly. If your birds have a white, watery stool with yellow droppings, suspect blackhead. I crush (3) 500mg tabs in a gallon of drinking water and treat for 2 days. (Shake well.) Because the drug will settle in the water, stir it up with a stick every few hours. You can get a few metronidazole tabs from any vet and they aren't expensive. Good luck.

 

[NCIndiaBlue]

Quote:
Great answer. I think that's another reason you would want to only feed Medicated Game Bird Starter. I believe the 'medicated' part is an anti-biotic.

 

[chickenzoo]

Quote:
Sorry to disagree... but it is indeed from a parasite, and although Flagyl treats it, Sageguard helps prevent it. SafeGuard - Fendabendazole

"Blackhead disease (also known simply as blackhead) is a commercially important avian disease that affects chickens, turkeys and other poultry. The disease carries a high mortality rate and affects the liver and cecum. It is a form of histomoniasis caused by the protozoan parasite Histomonas meleagridis. It is (only?) transmitted by another parasite; the nematode Heterakis gallinarum[1] when it is ingested along with soil containing (remains of) feces. Earthworms can act as a paratenic host [2].

Poultry (especially free-ranging) and wild birds, commonly harbor a number of parasitic worms with only mild health problems for them. Turkeys are much more susceptible to getting blackhead than are chicken. Thus chicken can be infected carriers for a long time because they aren't removed or medicated by their owner, and they don't die or stop eating/defecating. Heterakis gallinarum eggs can remain infective in soil for four years [3] thus there is a high risk of transmitting blackhead to turkeys if they graze areas with chicken feces [4] in this time frame. Thermophilic composting is known to sanitize soil from ascarid (another nematode) eggs.

The most common symptom of Blackhead disease is yellow watery bird droppings. To reduce the spreading of Blackhead disease, the sick birds must be removed and their litter changed."

 

[chickenzoo]

Here is some more reading pertaining to the parasite and Fenbendazole a.k.a Safeguard/Panacur

Cecal Worms

This parasite (Heterakis gallinae) is found in the ceca of chickens, turkeys and other birds.

This parasite apparently does not seriously affect the health of the bird. At least no marked symptoms or pathology can be blamed on its presence. Its main importance is that it has been incriminated as a vector of Histomonas meleagridis, the agent that causes blackhead. This protozoan parasite apparently is carried in the cecal worm egg and is transmitted from bird to bird through this egg.

The life history of this parasite is similar to that of the common roundworm. The eggs are produced in the ceca and pass in the feces. They reach the infective form in about two weeks. In cool weather, this may take longer. The eggs are very resistant to environmental conditions and will remain viable for long periods.

The cecal worm can be effectively treated with fenbendazole. Since the worm itself produces no observable damage and the eggs live for long periods, it is advisable and necessary to keep chickens and turkeys separated to prevent spread of blackhead.

 

[antiquebuff]

I would like to know if you can use DE for a wormer like we do in our chickens? I just got 5 peachicks and they are now 2 1/2 mo. old and I have not wormed yet. What is the best thing to start with? I always put DE in the hens water and house and have never had a problem.