Threadworm/ascarid

[cynic_custodian]

I have a flock of three, one hen has developed a black comb and she and another have a dirty bum for some weeks now.
The vet just called with the diagnosis threadworm/ascarid and I'm going down for meds shortly so my question isn't what this chicken has, but what do I do? The other two hens look healthy apart from the dirty behind and are way more lively then the sick one.

I'm planning to clean out the coop daily, to avoid re-contamination but apart from that, is there anything I should do? I'm talking to the vet in more detail tomorrow to see if the sick hen needs more care but I can't stand doing nothing because I feel bad for her.

Thanks for reading my rambling, hope you can help.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

If one hen has worms, it is most likely the whole flock does so you should treat all.
Here is a diagram of the lifecycle and treatments.
http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/roundwormsMost worms have a secondary host. Earthworms may eat the egg of a threadworm and the chicken then eats the earthworm.

 

[Eggcessive]

Ascarids are roundworms and thread worms are capillary worms. You will need to treat with SafeGuard liquid goat wormer 0.25 ml (1/4 ml) per pound of weight for 5 straight days. You can get it plus a syringe for measuring at your feed store. A 5 pound hen would get 1.25 ml dose.

 

[cynic_custodian]

The vet gave me iverquantel drops, which contains ivermecitine and praziquantel. Only administer once and in ten days I'll have to bring poop in to check for more.

I administered them this night and will clean out their coop (did some cleaning now, but it's dark and wet outside) tomorrow before work. Out and in offcourse. Will stop feeding on the ground for a few weeks, just put everything in bowls for them to eat out.

One of the hens was lethargic yesterday, but did a bit better today so I'm hoping we're on time.

Thanks for your advice!

 

[Eggcessive]

Panacur horse wormer works well at the same dosage as SafeGuard above. Here in the US, ivermectin has lost it’s effectiveness against worms. Praziquantel is better for treatment of tapeworms. Hopefully your vet’s medication works, and the follow up test is negative. If not, try getting Panacur.

 

[cynic_custodian]

Had an appointment with the vet this morning, mainly about our jack russel but talked about the chickens as well. He recommends another cure in ten days, clean the coop regularly and then another cure in a month and only a follow up test after that.
Cleaned out their run this morning, removed everything they would pick at in the dirt and hosed everything. Bought them some hanging raw feed and put everything in dishes now so they don't have to pick in the dirt. Let's hope we get them like this.

The hen is doing better though, moves a lot more then last sunday and eats and drinks well.

 

[Eggcessive]

Capillary or threadworms are hard to treat, and that is why most of the wormers we recommend commonly for chickens—fenbendazole (Panacur, SafeGuard) and albendazole (Valbazen)—are usually recommended to be given for several days in a row. Roundworms are easier to treat. Since ivermectin has lost effectiveness against worms because of it’s overuse for many years to treat lice and mites, it may not be effective. There also is a long egg withdrawal time with ivermectin. Let us know if the treatment was effective. Here are a couple of good articles about the different worms that chickens get, and how to prevent them in the environment:
https://parasitipedia.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2649&Itemid=2938
https://ucanr.edu/sites/poultry/files/201396.pdf

 

[cynic_custodian]

I'm tossing the eggs for a month already and probably will have to for another month or so, just after two of them started laying again after winter..:-(
Yesterday she looked way better, this morning she took way to long to get out of the coop, but she did eat after she got out so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would toss the eggs for at least 15 days after the second dose. Here are a couple of studies that found ivermectin residue between 2 and 15 days after treatment:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29378154
In another, it was not detected in the egg white (albumens,) but was detected in the yolks:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26553292

 

[cynic_custodian]

Great resources, thank you! Vet told me a month, just because it isn't registered here for chicks. 15 days is much better, doubt it makes much difference on their ROI at this rate though.