Chicken picking at feet

[Suzeb]

Hi everyone,

 

Worming question I'm afraid.

 

I have just found a worm (dead - about 2cm long) in poo. This co-incides with the monthly treatment with Verm-X. Does this mean that the Verm-x is doing its job by expelling the worm, or does it mean that I need to give the girls something stronger?

 

Will the eggs be okay? I know that most hens do have worms which is why the verm-x etc. but is 2cm big for a worm?!

 

I am a bit squeamish when it comes to worms and now feeling a bit ill!!

 

Thanks

 

Suze

[Plum]

Looks like it worked. Guess the only way to be sure is to send a sample to Retfords (or is that just for bugs?)

[emchook]

[chelsea]

I'm no worm expert, but I always thought that if you could see worms then your hen is quite infested... I would follow up with a course of flubenvet if it were me to clear out the infestation. I have never used Verm-x and have found flubenvet to be an excellent wormer.

[Jools]

A dead worm shows that the Verm-x (or whatever worming regime you use) is working.

 

Whatever method you use to control worms (aka internal parasites), once your chickens have acquired worms, they will become reinfested again within about a month unless you can move them to fresh ground, ideally each time you worm them- obviously this isn't practical for most people!!

 

Retfords can tell from a droppings sample the extent of the worm burden (and other things too).

[Dappy Chick]

I would definately give them a course of Flubenvet

[sandyhas3chucks]

oo oh....

here we go again

[Tutti Frutti]

We Verm-X'd our girls but, on the vet's advice, switched to Flubenvet. She explained it as Verm-X is for prevention but Flubenvet is the powerful cure!

[Jools]

Deja vu eh Sandy!

 

Flubevent and Verm-x work differently.

 

Flubenvet will cause any worms infesting your chickens to be killed and expelled, but unless you move them onto fresh ground at the same time, they will pick up worm eggs again which will turn into worms in around a month.

 

Verm-x works by making the gut inhospitable to worms, so keeping any worm burden to a manageable level.

 

Each have their fans and I know I'm in the minority on here as I'm in the Verm-x camp, but it works for my chickens and has done for several years.

 

[Daphne]

at least the worm was dead - its when you find the little blighters moving about you need to worry....shades of Dr Who and the giant slugs....or is that just me

[Chucky Mama]

If your current worming regime is allowing worms to get to 2cm long before potentially killing them I would be inclined to advise you to give them a course of Flubenvet. You can get the odd dead worm emerging without worming so don't think that because it is dead that there wont be live ones in there too.

[sandyhas3chucks]

If your current worming regime is allowing worms to get to 2cm long before potentially killing them I would be inclined to advise you to give them a course of Flubenvet. You can get the odd dead worm emerging without worming so don't think that because it is dead that there wont be live ones in there too.

Dunno the science of that but would be inclined to agree

[The Dogmother]

I think that CM is referring to the fact that you often see dead worms expelled just because they have reached the end of their life cycle; it's not necessarily an indication that your wormer of choice is working. The fact that they have spent long enough in the gut to reach that size means that you'd need to look at how you are worming or what you are using as they clearly aren't being eradicated. A few worms of that size will be enough to make a hen poorly.

 

CM may correct me on this though as she's far more technically qualified than I am.

[sandyhas3chucks]

oops didn't notice CM posted.... so glad I agreed!

[Chucky Mama]

I think that CM is referring to the fact that you often see dead worms expelled just because they have reached the end of their life cycle; it's not necessarily an indication that your wormer of choice is working. The fact that they have spent long enough in the gut to reach that size means that you'd need to look at how you are worming or what you are using as they clearly aren't being eradicated. A few worms of that size will be enough to make a hen poorly.

 

CM may correct me on this though as she's far more technically qualified than I am.

 

Spot on Claret

[Jools]

A dead worm expelled in faeces does not mean the worming routine is not working either.

 

Worms grow at different rates and some grow rapidly within a very small amount of time. The length of the worm does not therefore indicate the time spent inside the animal.

 

A chicken infested with worms will appear unwell (listless, unthrifty, emaciated etc). If an otherwise healthy chicken expels a worm in her droppings, the wormer (whatever you use) is working.

 

If there is any uncertainty, then Retfords carry out an efficient and reasonably priced service to measure the worm egg count in faeces.

[sandyhas3chucks]

sorry Jools, but I think you have got that wrong

[Sheilaz]

Without my mod hat on, I'd just like to add that, because hens can disguise illness, I wouldn't assume that one of mine didn't have worms just because it appeared to be well. In fact, they might be eating more than usual, & look as if they have a healthy appetite!

Personally, I use both preventative & treating methods routinely, rather than wait for definite signs.

 

Now, it's each to their own, and it's great to have so much information & discussion on the forum so we can all make informed decisions.

But, this thread seems to be raking over old ground , and even with a sprinkling of lime, perhaps we should leave it to rest a bit before revisiting?

 

Obviously open to new questions & ideas, but perhaps avoiding the repetition? Not aimed at any one person here, just an observation.

 

Yours peacefully...

[Jools]

Without my mod hat on, I'd just like to add that, because hens can disguise illness, I wouldn't assume that one of mine didn't have worms just because it appeared to be well. In fact, they might be eating more than usual, & look as if they have a healthy appetite!

Personally, I use both preventative & treating methods routinely, rather than wait for definite signs.

 

Now, it's each to their own, and it's great to have so much information & discussion on the forum so we can all make informed decisions.

But, this thread seems to be raking over old ground , and even with a sprinkling of lime, perhaps we should leave it to rest a bit before revisiting?

 

Obviously open to new questions & ideas, but perhaps avoiding the repetition? Not aimed at any one person here, just an observation.

 

Yours peacefully...

 

I couldn't agree more, and in particular with the first paragraph. If my earlier post suggested not worming, then I didn't express myself very well.

 

Milk no sugar please Sheila.