Worming chickens

[mkearsley]

I think my birds have worms

They free-range throughout the back yard, so I really haven't checked their poop, but my dog that also runs loose with them is exhibiting the behaviors of having worms. What do you guys recommend for the best treatment and how do you apply it? Should I worm them on a regular basis?
What is the threat of worms? Can they get in the eggs? Do they reduce egg production? Do they keep the birds from growing well?
I know that I can't feed the eggs to the birds or eat them for a couple of weeks. I was planning on giving the eggs to the dog. Can I give the eggshells to the hens?

This will be their 2nd spring & I've never wormed. I don't know if the hatchery wormed the 2 I bought as adults or not.....

Thanks.

 

[kickinchicken]

Your dog having worms has little to do with the chickens having worms. Get a fecal sample of both the dogs and the chickens. Not all the chickens, just a couple. Have a vet run fecal samples. You don't want to worm either if they don't have worms. Worming using a pesticide and the eggs won't be good until after treatment is over. Better to make sure then to expose your chickens and dog to unnecessary treatments.

 

[dawg53]

Quote:
x2 I agree, a fecal sample will identify whether they have worms or not and what types...then you can treat accordingly. They usually check for coccidia as well.

 

[mkearsley]

the reason I'm assuming they all have worms is because the dog likes to eat the chicken poop

When collecting the poop is there any particular type I should be getting? I've seen big ol' solid piles, little black greasy-looking things, and then the stuff in the coop thats fairly small, but solid. How fresh should it be? Anything particular I should put it in? Any idea on costs or how long it should take? Is there a way to test it at home (although this idea is totally gross)?
Thanks again.

 

[dawg53]

You put a fresh sample into a small plastic bag (ziploc bag works just fine) and take it to your vet. You can turn the plastic baggie inside out and pick up the sample like that if you want. My vet charged me $10. It varies vet to vet, but shouldnt cost no more than $20...much cheaper than you doing it yourself after buying a microscope, slides, liquids and books to identify oocysts etc.....It only takes them about 15 minutes to give you the results. Good luck.

 

[klmclain1]

Oh geez.. I never thought about my dogs getting worms from eating the chicken poop.. <sigh>

OK Dawg - I need clarification then. First, I bought Eprinex pour on with the understanding that it should be externally applied (depending on preference) every 3 -6 months for internal/external parasites. It sounded like I should do it regardless of symptoms? I also understand I don't have to stop using the eggs.. It also sounds like I should get some DE for both application to the coop area and feeding with the regular diet.

I kind of gleaned all this from different posts here on BYC. As you usually sound like one of the most knowledgeable here - would you please give me feedback on my understanding and correct anything wrong? I am new at all this and I don't want to do any harm to my girls!

Thanks - and sorry if I'm hijacking this thread!

 

[mkearsley]

Thanks dawg. I'll do that on Monday when the vet re-opens.

klmclain1 - hijack the thread all you want. That's the nice thing about BYC - there's always somebody who can answer your questions

 

[klmclain1]

Thanks! And Dawg answered my question on the side.

 

[kickinchicken]

It would be extremely expensive and inefficient for you to get all the supplies for fecal testing. I am a former vet assistant and you really need to know what you are looking for when it comes to cocci. Its not like looking for worm eggs. Cocci is a protozoan parasite and it it a bit tough to pin down when viewing the slides. Unless you have a large farm or an extra $1,000 sitting around, you probably wouldn't have your own lab on site.
Get a fresh sample from the dog (within 24 hours) and get some of the abnormal looking poo samples from the chickens.
DE is a great preventative. I clean out the coop, put out the food and water, liberally dust with DE and put the payer of shaving out and dust the shavings a bit as well. This way they are rolling in the DE and ingesting the DE when they eat and drink. Lots of people add it to the feed when they put it in their storage bins. I do this....most times.....

Call around to the local vets, see what they charge to run fecal samples and if they do them IN HOUSE. Lots of vets are getting into this new thing of sending out the samples and its a lot costlier too.

Hmm.....maybe I should start a fecal testing business! You all could mail the samples to me and I'd charge a MUCH CHEAPER rate than the vets do. Heck, the assistants are the one doing the tests, not the vets!!!

ETA:
Just found this online.... Cocci Rid. Here's the link. http://www.revivalanimal.com/store/p/6750-Cocci-Rid.aspx
Just a thought

 

[FourPawz]

Quote:
Here's a good article on roundworm infestations:

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/PS/PS01200.PDF