URGENT!!!! Worms in poo???!!!!

[cdmadaio]

I went to collect eggs today and there was some stool next to the egg so I brushed it aside with a stick but crawling inside, and under the poo were these white worms. I checked back later and saw that another chicken, or the same chicken, but a fresh piece of stool had the same thing. It seems like the worms are only in the new stool but I have no idea what these worms are or how I should treat the affected chickens. Their behavior is the same, and their activity level has not changed but this is distressing. I collected a sample and I’ve attached pictures of the sample. I apologize in advance for my cracked nail polish but that is just a reference for size comparison to an average fingernail. Thanks. If you have any idea what these are please tell me, and if you happen to know a way to treat it. The worms crawl around and really do not wriggle so I’ve ruled out that these are maggots. If you think they are, please tell me but from the behavior that the worms have exhibited I do not think they are maggots.

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

@casportpony

 

[casportpony]

They do look more like maggots than the worms I am used to seeing. Check the butts of your hens and make sure none of them have fly strike.

@Eggcessive , @dawg53 , @Wyorp Rock , what do you think?

 

[007Sean]

Maggots maybe can't really tell by the pic or maybe a tape worm segment?

 

[Mybackyardpeepers]

Think I agree with the possible maggots.

 

[cdmadaio]

They do look more like maggots than the worms I am used to seeing. Check the butts of your hens and make sure none of them have fly strike.

@Eggcessive , @dawg53 , @Wyorp Rock , what do you think?

I don’t see that any of them have flystrike. They do look a lot white maggots but all of my chickens dust bath regularly and have mostly solid poo. After inspection I don’t see any signs of fly strike. Are there any other causes???

 

[AmyJane725]

I don’t see that any of them have flystrike. They do look a lot white maggots but all of my chickens dust bath regularly and have mostly solid poo. After inspection I don’t see any signs of fly strike. Are there any other causes???

Flies will lay eggs on poop. So, no flystrike necessary for maggoty poop.

I know this is gross, but could you take some of the worms out of the bag and wash them off, then take more close up pics?

 

[cdmadaio]

Think I agree with the possible maggots.

As an honest question, do you think that maggots could survive in an alive chicken? That would be so terrible. If so, do you know of any possible cure for this?

 

[AmyJane725]

As an honest question, do you think that maggots could survive in an alive chicken? That would be so terrible. If so, do you know of any possible cure for this?

Maggots absolutely can survive in a living chicken. It's horrible. That's what fly strike is. Chicken gets a wound or a poopy butt, flies lay eggs in the wound/poop and then the maggots bore into the flesh. They can be removed with tweezers and such, but if it's left go too long they'll get so far in the body cavity that the bird dies.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

They do look more like maggots than the worms I am used to seeing. Check the butts of your hens and make sure none of them have fly strike.

@Eggcessive , @dawg53 , @Wyorp Rock , what do you think?

They look like maggots to me too.