Wormed with Pour On Ivermec... 1 week later hens are lethargic

[Kasey]

About three weeks ago I noticed a round worm in a pile of poop that was in the yard. So about a week and a half ago I wormed everyone with pour on ivermec. They had been wormed about 6 months prior with Wazine. We were going out of town so we did it several days before we left so we could monitor a little but didn't want to wait since we were seeing worms. I also intended on giving the second round of wormer (valbazen this time) when we got back.

When we got home we discovered that about 7 of our hens were lethargic and just hanging out under the roosts all day.

I've hesitated to give the second round of wormer because I don't want to make anyone worse. Or does it matter?

To complicate things further I unfortunately have a respiratory disease running it's course through my flock and I am treating symptomatically with Tylan 50 injected.

My first thought was that these hens had contracted the respiratory disease so we started Tylan and they got their 3rd dose last night. The ones that are only lethargic have shown no improvement but those with runny noses, sneezing or wheezing are improving significantly.

Today I checked the poop board and discovered several round worms still in the poop (still moving too, ick!). Also some are pooping a watery green poop.

What do I do?! Are they lethargic from being wormed?

Any advice?

 

[Eggcessive]

Ivomec, ivermectin does not work as a wormer due it's overuse for treating mites. Could you have overdosed them? The heat is very hard on chickens, and there is the possibility of them being dehydrated. Electrolytes and vitamins added to the water on the extremely hot days is good. How old are the lethargic chickens? Could they possibly have coccidiosis? The symptoms are lethargy, puffing up or hunching, poor appetite, and diarrhea, sometimes with blood. Corid (amprollium or Ampromed) for 5 days is the treatment for cocci. I would not worm them with Valbazen until I figured out why they are lethargic. It is a safe wormer, but I would just give one medicine at a time. Probiotics can help when there has been a worm or cocci problem, and Rooster Booster has one brand that has vitamins/electrolytes/probiotics all in one product called Vitamins With Lactobacillus.

 

[Kasey]

I followed the guidelines for giving ivomec pour on as a wormer. I believe it was about 3 drops for them. The lethargic hens are about 1 1/2 years old. Can they get coccidiosis that old?

I will try the Rooster Booster but they are eating and drinking little and do have the symptoms that you listed however it seems that a lot of diseases and issues have those symptoms as well.

 

[Eggcessive]

Any chicken any age can get coccidiosis if they are in a mixed age flock, if new birds have been added, or if the cocci is tracked in on shoes. Here is a good link to read about coccidiosis, especially the section "Etiology." http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/poultry/coccidiosis/overview_of_coccidiosis_in_poultry.html

 

[dawg53]

The worms are causing your birds to be lethargic. Ivomec products are ineffective against worms that infect poultry as Eggcessive stated. It doesn't help neither that your birds have a respiratory disease. Get rid of the worms first. I recommend valbazen, it slowly kills worms over several days which prevents blockages that cause toxic dead worm overload....1/2cc orally undiluted will get rid of all worms your birds may have, redose again in 10 days. About 3 hours after worming, give your birds probiotics for several days in conjunction with layer feed.
If there are relapses in respiratory symptoms in your tylan treated birds, your next step might be baytril. Of course your other option is to cull.

 

[cafarmgirl]

Ditto what Dawg said. If you are seeing live round worms in their poop they most likely are carrying a heavy load of the parasites. I would absolutely go ahead and treat with Valbazen and get the worm issue cleared up. Until then they are likely to continue going downhill.

 

[Kasey]

Is it ok to go ahead and treat all of the birds? Even those still on the Tylan doses?

 

[Kasey]

Also what is the best kind and way to give probiotics to then hens that aren't eating much? I was thinking of using a syringe with yogurt or buttermilk or rooster booster

 

[casportpony]

Is it ok to go ahead and treat all of the birds? Even those still on the Tylan doses?

You can use Tylan with Safeguard, not sure about Valbazen, but I'll check.

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

Also what is the best kind and way to give probiotics to then hens that aren't eating much? I was thinking of using a syringe with yogurt or buttermilk or rooster booster

You should look at the tube feeding link in my sig.

-Kathy