Worming Chickens: How Worms Affect Your Flock's Health

Many assume worm infestations affect mainly cats, dogs, or horses, but chickens too can suffer severe health problems if routinely wormed. Worms live inside the chicken's gut, robbing nutrients, damaging the intestinal lining, and weakening immunity. Left unchecked, worms can cause weight loss, poor condition, reduced egg laying and even death.

Recognising Worm Infestation Signs in Your Chickens

You may first notice one or more birds looking dull or thinner than usual, isolating themselves from the flock. Their droppings may become watery, foul-smelling or unusually runny instead of firm. Other telltale symptoms include:

• Loss of appetite
• Dehydration
• Egg production drops or stops
• Incoordination or weakness
• Dull combs, wattles and eyes

Not all symptoms occur simultaneously, but multiple signs usually appear during a significant infestation. Ignoring these symptoms places your hens at risk, as worms can be fatal if untreated.

Common Types of Intestinal Worms in Chickens

Roundworms (Ascarids galli)

These large intestinal roundworms can grow up to three inches and severely weaken birds by causing smelly diarrhoea and malabsorption of nutrients. Serious infestations often result in death.

Cecal Worms (Heterakis gallinae)

Living in the ceca, these small white worms don’t always cause obvious illness but carry Histomonas meleagridis, the protozoan responsible for blackhead disease, a dangerous condition in poultry.

Threadworms (Capillaria spp.)

Several species inhabit the crop, oesophagus or intestines, causing inflammation and damage. Capillaria obsignata is noted for embedding in intestinal walls, causing haemorrhaging and erosion. These worms thrive in deep litter environments, so coop hygiene is essential.

Tapeworms (Cestodes)

Flat, segmented worms varying in size; tapeworms are often hard to detect but cause poor nutrient absorption and weight loss in infected birds.

Gapeworms (Syngamus trachea)

These red, forked worms reside in airways, clogging the trachea and lungs, causing respiratory distress and often death if untreated. Young birds especially are at risk. Female gapeworms lay eggs in the trachea, which are coughed up, swallowed and passed in droppings, infecting others. Earthworms, snails, and slugs can be intermediate hosts.

Effective Worming Treatments for Your Flock

Consult your local vet to obtain appropriate poultry-formulated worming products. Treatment options include:

• Flubenvet: A commonly used wormer administered over seven days, typically mixed with feed pellets. Dosage must be carefully followed, especially for bantams.
• Ivermectin-based treatments: Effective for gapeworms and other parasites; usually applied as a topical pour-on or oral paste under veterinary guidance.
• Albendazole (Valbazen): Oral drench or paste targeting various worm types, with a second dose after 14 days to break the lifecycle.
• Water-based treatments: Products like Wormout Gel (containing Oxfendazole and Praziquantel) mixed in drinking water help deworm and prevent infestations.
• Herbal and natural options: Garlic powder in daily feed may reduce worm burdens but should be combined with regular chemical worming for effective control.

Repeat worming every three to six months is recommended depending on environmental contamination and flock risk factors. Always observe eggs and meat withdrawal times post-treatment before consumption.

Maintaining a Healthy Environment to Prevent Worm Infestation

Good coop hygiene is vital: clean your chicken house thoroughly at least weekly, avoid deep littering systems that foster worm eggs, and manage intermediate hosts like earthworms and slugs. Reducing stress in your flock by providing proper nutrition and shelter supports immunity against parasites.

Conclusion

Worm infestations in chickens are common but manageable with regular monitoring, strategic worming schedules, and maintaining clean living conditions. Early detection and treatment can save your birds from poor health or death. Remember to consult a veterinarian for the best advice and safe treatments tailored for your flock.

Tips & Hints

• Read wormer instructions carefully and seek veterinary advice if unsure.
• Consider environmental management to reduce parasite exposure.
• Do not over-worm; follow recommended dosing intervals to avoid resistance and toxicity.
• Observe withdrawal periods to ensure egg and meat safety.
• Chickens are delightful pets that demand care and attention; keeping them worm-free keeps the smiles coming.