What kind of worm is THAT?!?! (warning: poop pic)

[Kyzmette]

I noticed this little pullet was under the weather and brought her in. I found THIS in her poop. Holy wow, is that a worm? And if so, what kind?! It's so big it looks like she swallowed and pooped out an earthworm whole!

I treat my flock regularly for worms and have never seen any actual infestation. This set of juveniles has been outside for less than a month. If this is a worm I want to make I get them treated for the right kind and treat them immediately.

 

[Judy]

It looks more like a thread or piece of yarn to me. Did you put a glove on and handle it?

 

[Kyzmette]

Yes, I keep a box of gloves for chicken emergencies, and I was the one that stretched it out. That thing is definitely worm-like. It reminded me of a colorless earthworm. I'm thinking it might be a tapeworm. I went ahead and dosed her with safeguard, just in case, and the flock will get dosed tomorrow. I was going to dose them next week when I moved them into the new coop, anyway, but that was just the seasonal precautionary worming. Now it's worm war.

Gross.

 

[Judy]

When a chicken has tapeworm, it will have small whitish pieces in the poop that look much like rice.