Worm Overload in Chickens

[tlcmurphy]

Posting for @Tiffany Wikk and @Elspeth Dinsmore

Tiffany and Elspeth currently have 4 very sick chickens after worming their flock of 11 this weekend, it appears they are ill from a worm overload based on poop pics.
They have a thread but I don’t know how to attach it here, please reply if you have any suggestions to help them with their beloved birds. Thank you!

 

[Barnette]

Not sure what to do if they've already been wormed. Maybe try a different, stronger wormer?

 

[tlcmurphy]

Not sure what to do if they've already been wormed. Maybe try a different, stronger wormer?

The issue is that the chickens are now very sick due to a large number of dead worms.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

They are most likely having a Herxheimer reaction. When parasites die they release toxins into the host. When there are a lot of parasites the more toxins you have being released all at once. It’s actually not an uncommon response I myself have experienced it and it feels somewhat like a flu. I also had a pony I just purchased a few months back wormed by the vet because of a high workload and he went through a little bit of a herxheimer reaction as well. If the wormer has already had time to do its job I would recommend dosing with charcoal. Charcoal will help bind the toxins and help them expel them faster. Other than that you might want to treat it like a case of shock by using electrolytes and then keeping their environment minimal stress.

 

[tlcmurphy]

They are most likely having a Herheimer reaction. When parasites die they release toxins into the host. When there are a lot of parasites the more toxins you have being released all at once. It’s actually not an uncommon response I myself have experienced it and it feels somewhat like a flu. I also had a pony I just purchased a few months back wormed by the vet because of a high workload and he went through a little bit of a herxheimer reaction as well. If the wormer has already had time to do its job I would recommend dosing with charcoal. Charcoal will help bind the toxins and help them expel them faster. Other than that you might want to treat it like a case of shock by using electrolytes and then keeping their environment minimal stress.

Thank you very much! This is activated charcoal, correct? I think you can get that at a pharmacy.
@Tiffany Wikk @Elspeth Dinsmore

 

[tlcmurphy]

Do you happen to know the dose for a chicken?

 

[Tiffany Wikk]

They are most likely having a Herheimer reaction. When parasites die they release toxins into the host. When there are a lot of parasites the more toxins you have being released all at once. It’s actually not an uncommon response I myself have experienced it and it feels somewhat like a flu. I also had a pony I just purchased a few months back wormed by the vet because of a high workload and he went through a little bit of a herxheimer reaction as well. If the wormer has already had time to do its job I would recommend dosing with charcoal. Charcoal will help bind the toxins and help them expel them faster. Other than that you might want to treat it like a case of shock by using electrolytes and then keeping their environment minimal stress.

Oh thank you! That's very helpful to know!
We have activated charcoal that we can use. We gave them a molasses flush yesterday (1/4 cup water to 1tsp molasses, 1/4tsp sugar, 1/4tsp brewers yeast, dash of salt, electrolytes and baking soda. I will be sure to continue the electrolytes). The first hen perked up after it, as she was able to get a lot of poo past the probable blockage. She still feels very poor but she is awake a lot more than the others. It's probably our rooster, Alek, who has it worst right now. I will begin researching the charcoal! I'm excited to try that!

Also, I would love to know your dosage for charcoal.
All of them this morning are currently drinking electrolyte water and have a some scrambled eggs too. They seem much more alert, but I'm sure they still feel poor.

Here is the link for anyone who wishes to see the updates and information:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...opy-tail-edit-probable-worm-blockage.1628022/

One question for anyone with experience in tube feeding: Does anyone have tips/tricks for this in case I need to do a nother flush? Most of the time I can successfully handle the head of the chicken, but the hardest part is seeing the hole to the trachea. Sometimes it's right there behind the tongue, other times it's like they do something and it disappears further down. Way further down, where I can't see. Is there something specific I can do to help the chicken keep it higher up? Does that make sense? (And any tips on holding their head would be helpful too!)

 

[tlcmurphy]

I’d say try to hold the tongue down, but have NO idea how to do that!!
Will they just drink the molasses now?

 

[Tiffany Wikk]

I’d say try to hold the tongue down, but have NO idea how to do that!!
Will they just drink the molasses now?

I honestly just woke up. I'm not sure whether they will drink any or not yet. They just had a lot of water which was great, Alek didn't have much fluids to begin with so that's good he drank a lot. Maybe they will drink some with the molasses, I'll give it as a choice, but they drank so much electrolyte water they probably won't be interested for a bit. If one is poor enough though it seems it's best to give them a lot all at once. A little bit at a time didn't seem to do the same as a bunch at a time.
On my Faverolle, Brie, I was able to hold her tongue down a little and it helped! Unfortunately it didn't work on the roo I tried after her. But I'll keep trying it in case it works for another chicken. They all seem to have slightly different mouths.

 

[tlcmurphy]

I honestly just woke up. I'm not sure whether they will drink any or not yet. They just had a lot of water which was great, Alek didn't have much fluids to begin with so that's good he drank a lot. Maybe they will drink some with the molasses, I'll give it as a choice, but they drank so much electrolyte water they probably won't be interested for a bit. If one is poor enough though it seems it's best to give them a lot all at once. A little bit at a time didn't seem to do the same as a bunch at a time.
On my Faverolle, Brie, I was able to hold her tongue down a little and it helped! Unfortunately it didn't work on the roo I tried after her. But I'll keep trying it in case it works for another chicken. They all seem to have slightly different mouths.

Yeah, I wouldn’t want to try it on a roo myself