Things in The Water

[VolailleAmant]

Good morning,
I went out to do chores this morning, and it was 20* degrees outside. Yesterday it was 60* degrees. I live in Michigan if you can't tell Anyhow, When I was changing the water in my waterers, I saw 100-200 (or more) small, 1/2 inch "creatures" that looked like little noodles. I don't know if they could be worms, I have de-wormed my chickens, and I just dewormed them this morning. How would they, if they are worms, get into the waterers? Please help if you can!
-VA

 

[azygous]

The little "noodle" things sound like mosquito larvae. It seems much too cold for them, but I supposed the adult mosquitoes could have deposited their eggs during the warm fall period, then during a recent warm spell, the eggs could have hatched into larvae, gone back into a suspended state until thawed and poured into the waterers.

Living in Michigan where the mosquitoes are likely to carry off small pets and children, this shouldn't surprised you that they are so resilient.

 

[The Phantom]

How often do you change their water?

 

[lazy gardener]

What color were they? Do a google search for Mosquito larvae for comparison. What do you use for bedding, or is your waterer out in the run? Any overhanging trees? During the warmer weather, I often find interesting critters in the waterer. Earth worms, any type of larvae from ground or trees! I'm guessing the warm weather brought out some buggies, and they landed in your waterer. I even find cut worms laying on top of the ice after a warm day!!!

 

[Chickassan]

Are they red? If so they're bloodworms not harmful at all.

 

[Welshies]

x2 on lazy gardener's post.

 

[VolailleAmant]

How often do you change their water?

Once a day.

 

[VolailleAmant]

Are they red? If so they're bloodworms not harmful at all.

They aren't red, they are a tan or creamish colour. Really gross looking too

 

[VolailleAmant]

What color were they? Do a google search for Mosquito larvae for comparison. What do you use for bedding, or is your waterer out in the run? Any overhanging trees? During the warmer weather, I often find interesting critters in the waterer. Earth worms, any type of larvae from ground or trees! I'm guessing the warm weather brought out some buggies, and they landed in your waterer. I even find cut worms laying on top of the ice after a warm day!!!

I did a Google search, and they don't look like mosquito larvae. The mosquito larvae are more complex looking, while the "worms" in my water look like simple noodles with Black dots at the end....Or front. No over hanging trees. I use pine shavings for the bedding. The water only comes into the coop when it snows since the birds won't go outside when it snows Yesterday I brought the water outside because it was warm.
Is there such thing as a type of throat or mouth work in chickens other than happy worm? Thanks for your advice!!!!!!

 

[staceyj]

Probably mosquito larvae, it means your water has been standing too long.
If you're using a rain barrel collection system you might want to treat it with a Spinosad tablet and use it for other things like gardening etc instead of drinking water for your birds.
Lawn shrimp is a thing in the south east. Disgusting looking creatures.