Worms in chickens: symptoms and home treatment, prevention

Many owners of poultry face infection of chickens with worms. Even careful prevention is powerless against the ubiquitous parasites and their larvae. Worms provoke weight loss in chickens, disruption of the internal organs, and with severe infection, they can cause the death of the bird. Consider the types of helminths, symptoms, ways to cure and protect laying hens from a new infection.

Harm that helminths bring to chickens

Worms are a group of worms that parasitize in the body of chickens, animals and humans. Parasites live in different organs, lead to depletion and weakening of the carrier. Harm caused by helminths:

• worms deprive chickens of a significant part of the nutrients from the feed, leading to weight loss;
• waste products of parasites poison the body, lead to intoxication;
• during migration, colonies of worms and larvae destroy mucous membranes, infection penetrates through damage more easily, chickens lose their immunity;
• larvae develop in different organs of the bird - lungs, heart muscle, liver, destabilize their activity;
• with a significant accumulation of worms in the digestive tract, the patency is disturbed, the bird may die.

Worms feed on food eaten by chickens and body tissues, which leads to a noticeable deterioration in the he alth of birds.

Causes of infection

Worms enter the body through the alimentary route, that is, through the digestive tract. Chickens eat contaminated feed or drink inseminated water, through excrement they themselves spread parasites throughout the chicken coop. The causes of infection are:

• poor quality (inseminated) feed and water;
• sick chickens or other contact animals;
• dirt, unsanitary conditions in chicken coops, rare cleaning;
• high humidity, in which helminths multiply quickly and feel comfortable;
• slugs, rodents - carriers of worms;
• newly arrived infected chickens, chickens;
• grazing poultry - free range (earthworms, insects).

A person himself can bring helminths into the chicken coop on clothes and shoes. Note that worms are ubiquitous.

Important: the factor provoking infection is the weakening of immunity in chickens, which often occurs due to unbalanced nutrition and poor living conditions.

Symptoms and types of worms

Disease of chickens is caused by helminths of various types, the pathogen can be determined by the type, nature of the lesion, laboratory tests. Symptoms depend on the severity of the lesion. Many hens with good immunity, being carriers, are outwardly he althy and show no signs of illness.

Symptoms of all helminthiases are the lack of interest in feeding chickens, lethargy to complete apathy, dirty unkempt plumage, discoloration of the crest. Eggs become brittle, with uneven shells, often without an outer shell. Feces acquire an unnatural appearance, pieces of parasites, mucus are noticeable. Egg production is decreasing.

Amidostomiasis

Pathogen - Amidostomum anseris, nematode up to 2 centimeters. Worms are localized at the top of the digestive tract. Signs - lethargy, lethargy, respiratory problems, uneven, unsteady gait.

Capillariasis

The disease is caused by nematodes Capillariidae. The main carriers of parasites are earthworms, which laying hens peck at free range. A disease dangerous for birds is characterized by a sharp decrease in appetite, lethargy, diarrhea, body trembling. Feathers are raised, become dull, dirty, earrings and comb turn white.

Syngamosis

Syngamosis is caused by Syngamidae worms that live in the trachea. The disease is dangerous for chickens, young animals die in 80-100% of cases. Signs of infection:

• shaking head;
• cough with wheezing and wheezing;
• rapid, irregular breathing;
• stretching the neck;
• discharge of mucus from the beak.

Mucous and comb turn pale, chickens are inactive, lethargic.

Ascariasis

The disease is characterized by lesions of the digestive tract and general intoxication of the body.The causative agents are large (2-7 centimeters) Ascaridia worms. The most common type of helminthiasis in chickens. Young animals become infected during a common walking with adult chickens, the mortality rate of chickens is 30%. Signs - apathy, diarrhea with blood, sometimes - vomiting and disorders of nervous activity.

Cestodosis

Common name for several (7) different types of helminthiases. The size of the worms is from 0.5 millimeters to several centimeters. Different parts of the digestive tract are affected. Signs - thirst, exhaustion, stool disorders, respiratory disorders, convulsions. Cestodoses are observed in unkempt chicken coops, where chickens eat low-quality feed.

Coccidiosis

The disease is caused by protozoan parasites - Coccidiida, which live in tissue cells. They multiply in the intestines, causing mucosal disorders and infections. Chickens suffer from thirst, the plumage becomes dirty and disheveled, there is sticky mucus on the litter, blood is interspersed in the feces.

Prostogonimosis

Worm infestation with localization of Prosthogonimidae helminths in the genitals (oviduct) of chickens. A dangerous disease for laying hens, which often leads to death. It is characterized by an increase in temperature, bloating and induration of the abdomen, a violation of the release of eggs. Instead of an egg, thick mucus comes out. The chicken becomes inactive, does not leave the place, the gait is unsteady.

Treatment methods

At the first sign of deworming, chickens should be treated to avoid loss of livestock. To destroy helminths, antiparasitic drugs have been developed, there are proven folk methods.

Chicken treatment includes:

• introducing anthelmintic drugs or folk remedies into feed;
• careful removal and burning of manure, chicken coop cleaning, disinfection;
• isolation of diseased chickens in clean rooms;
• use of dietary ration for sick chickens.

Especially carefully you need to monitor the condition of chickens, since infection with worms is more dangerous for them, often leads to death.

Medications

When choosing a drug, you should seek help from a veterinarian. Many drugs that are constantly used in the region lose their activity, as the worms develop resistance to their action. Tips for choosing a remedy for worms at home:

• use broad-spectrum medicines that are effective against different types of worms;
• strictly follow the dosage - drugs are toxic, unsafe if the dose is exceeded;
• study instructions for use;
• observe the recommended frequency of application, otherwise the worms will again begin to multiply from the larvae;
• use preparations for chickens (not for cats, dogs).

Do not give injections to birds, add medicine to water or food. The volume of the preparation is usually chosen according to the total weight of the chickens.

Flubenvet

Strong anthelmintic drug, effective against various types of worms. Treat sick chickens in an isolated room with a concrete floor. Before giving Flubenvet, they do not feed for 10 hours. Dry powder is combined with feed at the rate of 60 grams per 20 heads.

Recommended weekly isolation of patients after treatment. Excrement is regularly removed and burned. The drug has increased toxicity, it is required to strictly observe the dosage. It is excreted from the body in two days.

Piperazine and Pyrantel

The most popular anthelmintic drugs, effective in the treatment and prevention of infection. They are classified as low toxicity. Dosage - 1/3 tablet per kilogram of bird weight. Tablets are crushed into powder, introduced into food or water for drinking.

Recommendations:

1. Piperazine. Give 2 times with an interval of a day, then again after a month. Chickens - one dose. Effective in ascariasis. Use eggs and meat 4 days after taking the drugs.
2. Pyrantel. The drug is given to the bird 3 times with an interval of 6 days. It is intended for adults only, not for chickens. Eggs are used no earlier than 4 days after therapy.

During the treatment period, birds are supported with enhanced feeding enriched with vitamin A.

Levamisole-plus

The drug has anthelmintic and immunostimulatory effects. The medicine is produced in the form of solutions, powder in different dosages. Use the drug as an additive in feed, drinking water or injection. Eggs can be used a week after the treatment of chickens, meat - after 3 days.

Reference: the drugs are toxic, therefore, the dosage is observed, chicken products are used for food within the time specified in the instructions.

Folk remedies

Most poultry farmers use folk remedies as a prophylactic. Home methods cannot destroy the colonies of worms in the body of chickens. With a slight infection, you can drink herbal infusions, give feed additives; strong immunity and medicinal plants will help chickens to overcome worms. No toxic chemicals needed.

Herbs against worms

Many plants have anthelmintic properties and are used for treatment and prevention in chickens:

• tansy - when infected with ascaris;
• pumpkin seeds - a universal remedy for worms of various types;
• bow feathers;
• wormwood drives out round and ribbon parasites;
• celandine (root) will cope with the worms that live in the intestines.

When using herbs, you need to observe moderation and recommended doses, as the worms destroy the poisons contained in plants.

Garlic

Garlic cloves finely chopped and added to poultry feed. To prevent infection with worms, garlic is given once a week, in case of illness - for a week every day. In the summer season, it is useful to add garlic arrows and feathers to green food to protect against worms and boost immunity.

Danger to humans and preventive measures

A person in contact with sick chickens can become infected with worms. The main types of chicken helminths are also dangerous for humans. To reduce the risk of infection from poultry, it is recommended:

• take care of the bird, clean the chicken coop in overalls;
• after visiting the chicken coop wash hands with hot water and soap;
• regularly carry out anthelmintic measures for poultry, do not use dishes, equipment outside the chicken coop.

To protect chickens from worms you need:

• regularly clean the house, take out manure, if worms are suspected, burn excrement in designated areas;
• use high-quality poultry feed, support the immunity of laying hens;
• quarantine new chickens;
• keep chicks separate from adult birds;
• ensure proper humidity in the chicken house.

Destroy rodents, insects, prevent your chickens from contact with strangers and wild animals, birds.

Can I eat meat and eggs if chickens have worms

If worms are found in laying hens, eating meat and eggs is not recommended. Once cooked, the risk of infection from exposure to high temperatures is minimal, but inseminated foods in the kitchen are a source of increased danger, especially for children.

Parasitologists strongly advise first to destroy the worms, to wait for the recommended time for the drug, so that the parasites and drug residues leave the body of the laying hens. After that, you can eat meat and eggs without the risk of infection.

Compliance with preventive measures protects chickens from infection with worms. A balanced diet strengthens the immunity of birds, maintaining cleanliness and humidity in the chicken coop prevents parasites from infecting the entire livestock. Modern antihelminthic drugs will help cure helminthiasis, prevent loss of livestock and material damage.

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