Worms in poop (warning, poop photo)

[ForFlocksSake]

My Black copper Maran has been missing feathers on her entire neck and butt for a long time now. At first I thought it was molting but they just aren't growing back. Today while I was in the run I noticed her bottom looked REALLY bad. Way worse than it has (and I check often). When she pooped I noticed it was very liquid and lo and behold, 3 wiggly white worms came out. So, that was gross. Then one of my other girls ATE the worms. Now I dont know what to do. Do I treat them? How do I do that? I currently have 12 laying hens in my flock and 6 more pullets separated but attached to the run. I have not begun integration yet and would really like to have this worm issue solved before I do that. Photo of the nasty poop and her poor bottom. I should add she is an extremely skittish girl and will not let me anywhere near her, so treating her will be a challenge.

.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Those are Roundworms. Treat all your birds.

To treat most worms that poultry can have except for Tapeworm you can use Safeguard (Fenbendazole) or Valbazen (Albendazole). Both are given orally by weight; they do not mix well with water.

Safeguard 10% Liquid Goat Dewormer or Equine Paste dose is 0.23ml per pound of weight given orally once a day for 5 days in a row.
---OR---
Valbazen dose is 0.08ml per pound of weight given orally once, then repeated in 10 days.

Here's how to give oral medications:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...dications-to-all-poultry-and-waterfowl.73335/


If you want to medicate water for Roundworms Only.
Use Levamisole Wormout Laying Hen Solution. You can find it at Jedds, instructions on dosing and usage is on the website and bottle.
https://jedds.com/products/laying-h...2_r7_OP9bo5tGwIxfqMawpEcjXJp2TJJ27XOrYuFCQYUn
---OR---
Safeguard Aquasol© formula can be used. You can also find this online or possibly in feed stores. Instructions for usage is on the packaging and the Safeguard Aquasol website.

 

[ForFlocksSake]

Thank you!

I think the safeguard aquasol is most practical for me. I can’t catch and medicate my whole flock every day for 5 days.

Am I able to eat the eggs during the treatment period?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you!

I think the safeguard aquasol is most practical for me. I can’t catch and medicate my whole flock every day for 5 days.

Am I able to eat the eggs during the treatment period?

If you follow the manufacturer's directions and dosing guideline on the bottle of Safeguard Aquasol, there is no withdrawal period.

 

[ForFlocksSake]

Follow up questions:

My Pullets have never been in the main run but their space is attached to the run. Do I need to treat them as well? Is it likely they contracted the worms somehow? And if so, my neighbor who has his chickens in a run just over the fence from me (about 30 feet away) was wondering if he should treat his too.

Hope these aren't stupid questions. This is a new one for me!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Follow up questions:

My Pullets have never been in the main run but their space is attached to the run. Do I need to treat them as well? Is it likely they contracted the worms somehow? And if so, my neighbor who has his chickens in a run just over the fence from me (about 30 feet away) was wondering if he should treat his too.

Hope these aren't stupid questions. This is a new one for me!

No, good questions.

Roundworm (eggs) can picked up by eating a host (like an earthworm that has been "infected"). Once established in the hen, then eggs are excreted from time to time in the poop, the eggs are then picked up by other birds or another host (earthworms/bugs, etc.) and the cycle basically keeps going.

So. They are not necessarily contagious, but if the birds all live together, scratch about (chickens eat ALL kinds of things), then you want to treat everyone in the flock of the hen that had worms in the poop.

The pullets that are separate, may not have worms. If they are over 6wks of age, you can treat them if you wish.

Your neighbor's birds may not have any worms, a lot depends on hosts/what's in the soil, etc. It would be up to them to decide, but deworming may be needed because of where you live.

I know, a lot of factors can come into play here. I see you live in FL, so you may want to treat fairly regularly. Folks in a warm climate seem to have more trouble worms at times. @dawg53 and @coach723 deworm often and I believe they rotate the dewormer that they use.

Just about any animal is going to be exposed to worms/eggs at some point and have worms, so just know that this is common in poultry and (dogs/cats/horses/goats, etc.).

 

[ForFlocksSake]

No, good questions.

Roundworm (eggs) can picked up by eating a host (like an earthworm that has been "infected"). Once established in the hen, then eggs are excreted from time to time in the poop, the eggs are then picked up by other birds or another host (earthworms/bugs, etc.) and the cycle basically keeps going.

So. They are not necessarily contagious, but if the birds all live together, scratch about (chickens eat ALL kinds of things), then you want to treat everyone in the flock of the hen that had worms in the poop.

The pullets that are separate, may not have worms. If they are over 6wks of age, you can treat them if you wish.

Your neighbor's birds may not have any worms, a lot depends on hosts/what's in the soil, etc. It would be up to them to decide, but deworming may be needed because of where you live.

I know, a lot of factors can come into play here. I see you live in FL, so you may want to treat fairly regularly. Folks in a warm climate seem to have more trouble worms at times. @dawg53 and @coach723 deworm often and I believe they rotate the dewormer that they use.

Just about any animal is going to be exposed to worms/eggs at some point and have worms, so just know that this is common in poultry and (dogs/cats/horses/goats, etc.).

Thank you so much. I’m curious how often members in warm climates deworm and what they rotate with. @dawg53 @coach723 I would love to hear from you about this! What’s your process?

 

[CabritaChicks]

Thank you so much. I’m curious how often members in warm climates deworm and what they rotate with. @dawg53 @coach723 I would love to hear from you about this! What’s your process?

This I never planned to have a de-worming schedule- but I definitely live in a hot and humid climate. Subscribing to hear the answer.

 

[coach723]

I worm every 3 - 4 months for roundworm. Once they are in your soil, it's pretty much impossible to get rid of them. Moving to new ground can help, but many don't have space to do that. And it's still no guarantee. I moved my birds to new ground in a new coop about a year ago, and wormed everybody before they moved (full treatment). Still had birds show up with roundworm. The Florida climate is just very friendly to them. It's really based on what you see in your flock and what it takes to keep them healthy. I believe that @dawg53 worms monthly. I have about 40+- birds currently and I use Valbazen and Safeguard. I rotate the meds periodically, but not necessarily every time. I worm orally so that I know they all got the appropriate amount. I just lock them in the coop at dark, and then go out early in the morning before light and take them off the roost one at a time and dose them, turn them out into the enclosed run. I use a lantern so the light is low and localized and they all stay relatively calm. A hat with a light on it would work too. When the coop is empty, I know I've gotten them all. It's also a convenient time to get a quick health check on each one, check feet, vents, body condition, crop issues, quick look for any lice or mites, etc. Particularly helpful for birds that are hard to catch otherwise. If you KNOW you are only treating for roundworm, you can dose with either medication two doses 10 days apart. If you are unsure, the Safeguard requires 5 days in a row to get some other types. The Valbazen will take care of most worms with the two doses. I've never used the Aquasol, though I know many have. I just prefer to know they definitely got the dose. A sick bird carrying parasites may not drink well and get enough when it's in the water. I've had very sick birds, and lost a couple early on, due to worms, and I find it less labor intensive to just worm regularly, rather than nurse sick birds.

 

[ForFlocksSake]

I worm every 3 - 4 months for roundworm. Once they are in your soil, it's pretty much impossible to get rid of them. Moving to new ground can help, but many don't have space to do that. And it's still no guarantee. I moved my birds to new ground in a new coop about a year ago, and wormed everybody before they moved (full treatment). Still had birds show up with roundworm. The Florida climate is just very friendly to them. It's really based on what you see in your flock and what it takes to keep them healthy. I believe that @dawg53 worms monthly. I have about 40+- birds currently and I use Valbazen and Safeguard. I rotate the meds periodically, but not necessarily every time. I worm orally so that I know they all got the appropriate amount. I just lock them in the coop at dark, and then go out early in the morning before light and take them off the roost one at a time and dose them, turn them out into the enclosed run. I use a lantern so the light is low and localized and they all stay relatively calm. A hat with a light on it would work too. When the coop is empty, I know I've gotten them all. It's also a convenient time to get a quick health check on each one, check feet, vents, body condition, crop issues, quick look for any lice or mites, etc. Particularly helpful for birds that are hard to catch otherwise. If you KNOW you are only treating for roundworm, you can dose with either medication two doses 10 days apart. If you are unsure, the Safeguard requires 5 days in a row to get some other types. The Valbazen will take care of most worms with the two doses. I've never used the Aquasol, though I know many have. I just prefer to know they definitely got the dose. A sick bird carrying parasites may not drink well and get enough when it's in the water. I've had very sick birds, and lost a couple early on, due to worms, and I find it less labor intensive to just worm regularly, rather than nurse sick birds.

Thanks for your insight! Do you throw eggs away after treating this way?