Vent Gleet? UPDATED* fecal test indicates tapeworms and roundworms

[ChxLadyCass]

This has just turned into my "what's the health of my flock" thread! Do these photos look like molt? I thought she looked a little off today. The 1st picture is of her a couple weeks ago for reference. I am just hyper aware now after losing a hen and Blacky is one of my absolute favorites!
After looking at another one from weeks ago, maybe she just has few feathers there and it looks weird after bathing!

 

[casportpony]

What does your gut feeling say?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I did have chickens with light brown foamy stool. And a hen die. Those were what sparked this conversation. Since treating with Wazine, everyone's stool is looking much better! A range of normal I would say! I have treatments for coccidiosis and tapeworms in case health problems persist. I am still treating everyone for their life outbreak, so I agree, they don't need more treatment than necessary. I'm planning on keeping an eye on their growth, laying, breasts, feather conditions, stool and behaviors! Anything else? What about their combs? I've noticed two of my Buff Orpingtons' combs looking faded and purplish compared to the others.

Purple combs is a bad thing.
Pale, shriveled combs during winter or when birds aren't laying is normal.

This has just turned into my "what's the health of my flock" thread! Do these photos look like molt? I thought she looked a little off today. The 1st picture is of her a couple weeks ago for reference. I am just hyper aware now after losing a hen and Blacky is one of my absolute favorites!
After looking at another one from weeks ago, maybe she just has few feathers there and it looks weird after bathing!

I'm not judging you because there may be issues in your flock but I think many people are flock hypochondriacs. If one starts with healthy birds and they have good management practices, I just assume all is well unless something obvious goes wrong.

 

[casportpony]

So I read up a little on fecal egg counts, and it seems that when to treat depends on the species of animal, it's age, it's health, and what type of eggs are found. For example, in young cattle a fecal egg count of only 50 of a certain worm can cause them to look unthrifty, and in sheep some eggs counts can be in the hundreds are the norm. Does that make any sense? Could not find and references about poultry, and that 100 egg count thing I mentioned is something that a friend told me. He's the one that bought a scope, centrifuge, etc, and with his vet's assistance, taught himself how to do fecals, so I'm guessing that number came from the vet.

 

[ChxLadyCass]

What does your gut feeling say?

That she has a thin feathers in this spot and she is in good health!

 

[ChxLadyCass]

Purple combs is a bad thing.
Pale, shriveled combs during winter or when birds aren't laying is normal.

I'm not judging you because there may be issues in your flock but I think many people are flock hypochondriacs. If one starts with healthy birds and they have good management practices, I just assume all is well unless something obvious goes wrong.

It's true!! The more I stare at them looking for something wrong, the more I see! My management has improved greatly in the past two weeks, so I will keep that in mind and move forward with confidence!

 

[ChxLadyCass]

So I read up a little on fecal egg counts, and it seems that when to treat depends on the species of animal, it's age, it's health, and what type of eggs are found. For example, in young cattle a fecal egg count of only 50 of a certain worm can cause them to look unthrifty, and in sheep some eggs counts can be in the hundreds are the norm. Does that make any sense? Could not find and references about poultry, and that 100 egg count thing I mentioned is something that a friend told me. He's the one that bought a scope, centrifuge, etc, and with his vet's assistance, taught himself how to do fecals, so I'm guessing that number came from the vet.

Yes, and I think the hens with the stool I had tested are young, but it really is hard to say! My flock ranges from 12 weeks maybe to 2-3 years old! I tried searching too and found lots of articles about how worms are present in poultry, but no egg counts. I feel confident treating the flock for the roundworms all together, since that was the highest egg count, but I am still on daily poop patrol looking for any abnormalities. I am on guard and ready!

 

[casportpony]

 
What does your gut feeling say?

That she has a thin feathers in this spot and she is in good health! 

It's good that you are taking a closer look at them, but try not to let it create anxiety in your life.

So I read up a little on fecal egg counts, and it seems that when to treat depends on the species of animal, it's age, it's health, and what type of eggs are found. For example, in young cattle a fecal egg count of only 50 of a certain worm can cause them to look unthrifty, and in sheep some eggs counts can be in the hundreds are the norm. Does that make any sense? Could not find and references about poultry, and that 100 egg count thing I mentioned is something that a friend told me. He's the one that bought a scope, centrifuge, etc, and with his vet's assistance, taught himself how to do fecals, so I'm guessing that number came from the vet.

Yes, and I think the hens with the stool I had tested are young, but it really is hard to say! My flock ranges from 12 weeks maybe to 2-3 years old! I tried searching too and found lots of articles about how worms are present in poultry, but no egg counts. I feel confident treating the flock for the roundworms all together, since that was the highest egg count, but I am still on daily poop patrol looking for any abnormalities. I am on guard and ready! 

People think I'm nuts with regards to poo, and while it's nasty stuff, it can be a very good way to assess the health of your flock. Yes, what they eat, how much they drink, and the temperature can affect how it looks, but you'll figure that out soon enough. The real skill though is in recognizing the subtle things a sick bird will do when it's in the early stages of an illness.

 

[aart]

People think I'm nuts with regards to poo, and while it's nasty stuff, it can be a very good way to assess the health of your flock. Yes, what they eat, how much they drink, and the temperature can affect how it looks, but you'll figure that out soon enough. The real skill though is in recognizing the subtle things a sick bird will do when it's in the early stages of an illness.

I don't....if the eyes are the window to the soul, poops are the window to the body...hahaha!!

I sift the poops out if the roost board every day, definitely see clues there....
...takes time/experience/practice to get used to the 'normals'(or at least the not freak out abouts) and the truly abnormal that needs attention.
I have never seen anything abnormal enough to warrant fecals,
but I also open the intestines when cull slaughtering and have never seen any worms there either.

 

[ChxLadyCass]

I don't....if the eyes are the window to the soul, poops are the window to the body...hahaha!!

I sift the poops out if the roost board every day, definitely see clues there....
...takes time/experience/practice to get used to the 'normals'(or at least the not freak out abouts) and the truly abnormal that needs attention.
I have never seen anything abnormal enough to warrant fecals,
but I also open the intestines when cull slaughtering and have never seen any worms there either.

haha that's great! Yes, I sent Kathy some pictures of the fecal matter I had testing and it was REALLY concerning. Foamy, liquid and orange brown. And of course the hen dying was also concerning. There was nothing normal looking of it! But I haven't seen any signs of it since treating with wazine, so I am feeling very relieved.