Worm under surface of skin

[MaggieandPen]

Hi I have a five year old Rhode Island Red hen. About a month ago she had fly strike. We got it under control with Iodine and anti bacterial/anti fungal spray. I was checking her today and noticed a worm in a circular position (hook worm??) underneath her skin about 1” north east of her vent. What can I give her to get rid of this worm? I give them vinegar water regularly and dust the coop with diatomaceous earth.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Do you have a picture?

 

[MaggieandPen]

Do you have a picture?

I don’t.

 

[MaggieandPen]

 

[MaggieandPen]

View attachment 4193571

There it is. Her feathers are very sparse around that area. This is a pic right after I soaked her.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I will tag some people who can help @Wyorp Rock @azygous

 

[MaggieandPen]

Thank you so much!

 

[azygous]

What is your location on the planet? It affects how we can advise you.

Have you seen this thing move? If you lightly rub your finger over it, can you get it to produce movement? Even if it turns out to be a vein, you could safely make a shallow incision as long as the width of the object and try to tweeze it out. Disinfect the site before and after surgery. This is what I would do. If it turns out not to be a worm and you nick a vein in the process, there wouldn't be much bleeding involved.

If you are located in a part of the world where you can purchase Ivermectin 1% solution, a few drops on the skin on the back of the neck will kill most worms.

 

[MaggieandPen]

Thank you for your reply! I live in Sacramento California. I believe I can get ivermectin. If I purchase put it on topically will I still need to do the surgery? Is it possible that this is a magot from the fly strike? I have not seen it move but the hen is sensitive to my touching it.

 

[azygous]

No, you would not need to do the surgery of you use Ivermectin. It would kill the worm and it would be absorbed into the chicken's system.

Not everyone has the confidence to wield a knife on their chicken, even if just a tiny cut. But it doesn't cost anything and if you see it's a worm, you can remove it immediately.

Maggots from fly strike wouldn't be long like that. Maggots are more like rice than long noodles. I'm of the opinion that you are seeing a vein close to the surface of the skin.