White rice looking things in poop - help!

[Zillaah]

Today I noticed these tiny rice looking things in some poops. Worms? How do I treat them? Do they effect the eggs?

I have noticed lately some of my girls have been being picked on but I haven’t caught the bully(ies) in the act. Could it be that they are being picked on due to illness? I have 11 chickens that are all a little over a year old and I haven’t noticed this behavior until about a month or so ago.

 

[dawg53]

They are tapeworm segments. Purchase Equimax equine paste wormer at a feed store and see if you can isolate the bird that excreted that particular feces...if you know which bird it was, and treat her with the Equimax. Then redose again in 10 days.
The dosage is in this link:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...rms-under-construction.1220309/#post-19519143

 

[ChocolateMouse]

That looks to me like maggots laid after the fact by flies. Those don't look like tapeworms to me.

If they ARE tapes, I think you'd be seeing some symptoms because of my many there are.

 

[dawg53]

The Equimax will be in the Equine section at your feed store. It's safe to go ahead and use the Equimax.
Valbazen is an excellent wormer getting rid of all types of roundworms, hang on to it for future use.
ALL wormers are more effective when feed is withheld for 24 hours. Withholding feed weakens worms making them more susceptible to the potency of the wormer.
Here's the dosage for Equimax in this link:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...rms-under-construction.1220309/#post-19519143

 

[DiYMama540]

Is it just this poo that has the worms or several of them? I would clean their poop boards really well and then check first thing in the AM. That should tell you if this is tapeworms or maggots after the fact.
I'm leaning more towards tapes. Never seen maggots like that on chicken poo...but then again there is a first for everything.

 

[dawg53]

Thanks everyone. It was a fresh looking poo so I don’t think they are maggots and I did see another one the yard with similar white things. I don’t know which bird laid it so I will treat them all. Should I be tossing any eggs they’ve laid lately or are they still safe? Does anyone have any idea if I should be treating my yard or coop with something? They are free range in my yard, about a half acre, only in the coop at night.

It's best to toss eggs in the garbage 14 days after dosing with Equimax.
Insects are the host of infective tapeworm eggs. Chickens eat the infected insect, then the chicken becomes infected. Keep in mind that not all insects are infected.

 

[dawg53]

I haven’t seen any symptoms besides some of them being bullied. What symptoms would they be exhibiting?

You are already seeing symptoms, segments in feces. Eventually the infected chicken(s) will become weak, emaciated and slowly die from starvation. The immune system will also weaken, opening the door for diseases to invade the chickens system.

 

[dawg53]

No need for a fecal test. They ARE tapeworm segments. I've dealt with tapeworms many times.

 

[dawg53]

¯\_(ツ)_/¯
My puppy had tapes like two months ago - confirmed by vet- and it didn't really look like that but they might look different in chickens.

My point was - a professional fecal is cheap.

Equimax is cheaper.
https://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail...=+equimax +paste&utm_content=Equimax - Pastes

 

[dawg53]

I forgot to add that after withholding feed for 24 hours, and then worming them, your birds will be very hungry. Wait at least 3 hours after worming before feeding them.
Then only feed them a little at a time, gradually increasing feed during the day back to normal feeding.
If you give them feed right after worming, they will gorge feed causing impacted crop. This is why you feed them sparingly at first, increasing feed in time.