To Worm Or Not

kjorgey

Songster
Mar 24, 2020
95
178
101
Pennsylvania/North of Philadelphia
I have a 3 year old flock of 5 hens (2 passed away of unknown causes in past year). I have never wormed my hens. They eat commercial feed, do free range in my garden area daily and I keep a very clean coop and run. I have not seen any evidence of worms in poop, but my hens stopped laying. They are going through a major molt. Vents look clean. One hen is in chicken hospital for unknown issue. Wasn't herself, soft boggy crop with watery poop. Only change in routine was I gave some red beat greens from garden. Anyhow, should I deworm with prescription from vet even without physical evidence?
 
You should worm them even if there's no evidence in there poop. Sometimes chickens acquire a small load of worms and there are different types. But even that amount can impact there health. This would be a reassurance for your own sake.
 
my hens stopped laying. They are going through a major molt
Most hens go out of lay when in molt.
One hen is in chicken hospital for unknown issue. Wasn't herself, soft boggy crop with watery poop. Only change in routine was I gave some red beat greens from garden. Anyhow, should I deworm with prescription from vet even without physical evidence?
You have another thread here.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/crop-gizzard-or-both-issue-help.1554849/

If you have a vet that can run a fecal float that's always a good idea. Otherwise, you can just deworm your hens if you feel they need it.

Since they are in molt, then you would want to use Albendazole (Valbazen) to deworm. Dose is 0.08ml per pound of weight given orally once, then repeated in 10 days. You can order Valbazen online at various places.
https://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=30E07949-7B6A-11D5-A192-00B0D0204AE5
How to administer oral medication
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...dications-to-all-poultry-and-waterfowl.73335/

The hen you have separated, work on treating her crop. It may be slow because a number of reasons, here's a good article to read, including the comments section.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/
 
Most vets would do a fecal float and it is not expensive. I recommend to take a fresh sample to the vet, you should have the results the same day. This way you are sure your flock has parasites, then you can treat them. No need to give them a harsh med if they don't need it.
 
Thank you. Yes, I intend to do that tomorrow when my vet clinic is open and there is a good avian vet there who has seen my other hen who passed. My current hen, Blondie is now taking her feed mushed with electrolytes and passing clear fluid mixed with what looks like dark leafy fragments and bits of tiny mulch pieces. This is after multiple crop massages and 24 hours of just fluid. So I'm assuming this isn't a crop or gizzard impaction since she seems to be passing stuff. I think I got the piece of jute string caught in her crop regurgitated early enough and the beet leaves are just taking a while to pass through. Still definitely worth assessing for worms. Her crop was empty this afternoon when I gave her some mushy feed and yogurt. She seems fine enough in her quiet pen alone. Now, if only I can talk my husband into another expensive vet visit for a hen who isn't laying his eggs. That is the greater challenge ahead. On a side note, I'm a nurse practitioner so I don't like to go down without a fight. I'm as diligent with my hens as I have been with my patients when in practice. They really are family at this point. They saw me through breast cancer treatments and gave me such joy. I feel each loss and want to ensure I give them the best care and fighting chance when they too get sick. Thanks again for the insight. I'll let you know how I make out so we can all learn.
 

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