Tapeworm Deworming Question

[tcfoster]

Hi everyone! About 6 weeks ago I noticed tapeworms in my chicken's poop. I am 99.99% sure they are tapeworms. Photo is attached for reference. I have treated the flock twice with Safeguard (fenbendazole) in their drinking water. When treating I make sure that water is their only water source so they all have to drink out of it. It has been about 5 days since my second de-wormer dose and I'm still finding the tapeworms in some of their droppings. Should I try de-worming with something else? I am very diligent about picking up all the poop and not throwing treats on the ground so they don't re-ingest it. I'm also wondering if I need to discard their eggs. I have read that fenbendazole is fine and you don't need to adhere to an egg withdrawal but I've also heard the opposite. I don't think that there is anyway that there could be a tapeworm in an egg right?? Thanks in advance for your advice!

 

[Isaac 0]

SafeGuard has limited efficacy against tapeworms, adding to that, if you're giving the medication in water, it's likely they're getting an incorrect dose regardless since SafeGuard (unless using Aquasol) is not water-soluble and will settle at the bottom after a while. You want a praziquantel based wormer such as Equimax, or Zimerictin.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/equimax-ivermectin-187-praiquantel-1403-paste-642-g
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/p...wormer-ivermectin-155-praziquantel-775-026-oz

For, Equimax dose 0.03ml per pound, orally, once, then again in ten days.
For, Zimectrin dose 0.06ml per pound, orally, once then again in ten days.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Should I try de-worming with something else? I am very diligent about picking up all the poop and not throwing treats on the ground so they don't re-ingest it.

You might try identifying the source of the tape worms.. for example they can be caught by dogs from ingesting fleas.. and some parasitic species have laid their eggs on earth worms and ingesting the earth worms is how they contract them. It has NOT been an issue in MY location with my soil type, weather, stock load, etc.. but EVERY situation is unique in this regard... Example.. my local friend on an acre has 5 little dogs, 2 cats, 50 chickens, 27 turkeys, and 2 goats.. in the yard only picks up dog waste and has not yet had to deal with tapeworm. But yes she had to deal with round worms.. Link which shows even house flies *can* be a "intermediate" host..

https://poultry.extension.org/articles/poultry-health/internal-parasites-of-poultry/

Do you have other animals that also need to be treated for internal parasites.. like dogs, cats, etc?

Also be sure not to invite wild birds by hanging feeders etc. Trap/eradicate rodents or any other possible vectors..

I'm in California tom but haven't heard of Murphy's before today, hope you're enjoying this community!

Maybe this link can point you in the direction of something more effective..

https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poultry/helminthiasis/helminthiasis-in-poultry

Ivermectin, is safe despite not being approved for use in poultry (I have pour on, on hand by chance).. it's because withdrawal times have not been studies. Some common withdrawal times in the following link..

Egg residue FARAD

 

[tcfoster]

SafeGuard has limited efficacy against tapeworms, adding to that, if you're giving the medication in water, it's likely they're getting an incorrect dose regardless since SafeGuard (unless using Aquasol) is not water-soluble and will settle at the bottom after a while. You want a praziquantel based wormer such as Equimax, or Zimerictin.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/equimax-ivermectin-187-praiquantel-1403-paste-642-g
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/p...wormer-ivermectin-155-praziquantel-775-026-oz

For, Equimax dose 0.03ml per pound, orally, once, then again in ten days.
For, Zimectrin dose 0.06ml per pound, orally, once then again in ten days.

Great, thank you! I didn't realize that about Safeguard but it makes total sense

 

[tcfoster]

You might try identifying the source of the tape worms.. for example they can be caught by dogs from ingesting fleas.. and some parasitic species have laid their eggs on earth worms and ingesting the earth worms is how they contract them. It has NOT been an issue in MY location with my soil type, weather, stock load, etc.. but EVERY situation is unique in this regard... Example.. my local friend on an acre has 5 little dogs, 2 cats, 50 chickens, 27 turkeys, and 2 goats.. in the yard only picks up dog waste and has not yet had to deal with tapeworm. But yes she had to deal with round worms.. Link which shows even house flies *can* be a "intermediate" host..

https://poultry.extension.org/articles/poultry-health/internal-parasites-of-poultry/

Do you have other animals that also need to be treated for internal parasites.. like dogs, cats, etc?

Also be sure not to invite wild birds by hanging feeders etc. Trap/eradicate rodents or any other possible vectors..

I'm in California tom but haven't heard of Murphy's before today, hope you're enjoying this community!

Maybe this link can point you in the direction of something more effective..

https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poultry/helminthiasis/helminthiasis-in-poultry

Ivermectin, is safe despite not being approved for use in poultry (I have pour on, on hand by chance).. it's because withdrawal times have not been studies. Some common withdrawal times in the following link..

Egg residue FARAD

Thanks for your response! Murphys is a tiny little town in the Sierra Nevada foothills/Gold Country, between Tahoe and Yosemite. We are basically 3 hours directly east of San Francisco. A close by town is Angels Camp, a lot of people have heard of that because of Mark Twain's Jumping Frog. But it's also still very small. Where in CA are you?

Again, thanks for all the information. We do have 2 small dogs and a cat but they don't really interact with the chickens. I also didn't realize that the same type of worms could affect poultry and dogs/cats. Definitely something to look into. However my chickens do eat an awful lot of earthworms. I will do some more research from your links. I didn't realize before today that Safeguard wasn't really effective on tapeworms.

 

[Eggcessive]

Praziquantel is very effective against tapeworms. The dosage I am familiar with for Equimax horse paste is 0.033 ml per pound of weight, or 0.16 ml for a 5 pound hen. Repeat in 10-14 days. Zimectrin Gold dosage would be more. Vets also sell praziquantel tablets which you may also find online at pet strore sites. Dosage is 5 mg per pound. You would want a 1 ml syringe to calculate dosage, and the needle-less ones are free at most pharmacies if you ask for one to give an infant medicines. They also sell needled 1 ml syringes, but CA probably won’t sell those. You can find dosages for all of the praziquantel products here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/treating-tapeworms-under-construction.1220309/

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Where in CA are you?

California/Oregon border on the coast about 7 hours north of SF, "where the redwoods meet the sea". It's all beautiful, even gold country!

The coast redwoods are a tad different than those in Yosemite/sequoia.. more rain/less snow.. still fantastic ALL around!