Parasitical poultry worms are very common, and as long as they are monitored and, if necessary, treated with an effective wormer, they will not usually have a long-lasting effect on your birds. Infested chickens will become lethargic, and will eventually stop eating, so you need to keep an eye on the situation, and intervene with worming drugs if the outbreak is causing health problems.
Chickens can directly or indirectly ingest worm eggs. Direct ingestion means they will eat the worm egg. Indirect ingestion means they will eat an earthworm or bug that is the host of worm eggs. The parasites will then live and lay eggs inside your hens, which will pass them out through droppings, so that the pesky parasitical lifecycle begins again.
If your chickens have worms, it will be easier to get rid of them if you move them to a new grazing area often. This is so your chickens won’t be continually ingesting the worm eggs which are in your chickens droppings.
Most parasite worms belong to the Nematode family. As a family, nematodes are thought to be the commonest animal on the planet, with several million in a small garden plot. The ones that infest poultry are as follows:
As a chicken owner, you want to make sure that your flock stays healthy. One common health issue in chickens is worms. Worm infestations can make chickens very sick if they are not treated. How do you know if your chickens have worms? Here are some ways to find them, keep them from getting them, and treat them if they do get them.
What Are Chicken Worms?
There are several types of parasitic worms that can infect chickens
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Roundworms are the most common type of intestinal worm in chickens. They are big worms that live in the digestive tract and can grow up to 8 cm long.
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Tapeworms – Intestinal worms that are flat, segmented, and attach to the intestinal wall.
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Hair Worms – Very thin worms that live in the crop, esophagus, and intestine.
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Gapeworms – Inhabit the windpipe and lungs. Cause chickens to gasp for air.
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Gizzard Worms – Live in the gizzard. Cause weight loss.
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Cecal Worms – Live in the ceca. Typically don’t cause illness.
These worms are transmitted when chickens ingest worm eggs from the environment or eat earthworms, snails or slugs carrying worm larvae. The worms then mature inside the chicken and produce more eggs that pass into the feces, continuing the cycle.
6 Signs Your Chicken Has Worms
Watch for these common symptoms of a worm infection:
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Increased appetite – Chickens will eat more as they try to compensate for nutrients being lost to the worms.
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Weight loss – Worms rob chickens of nutrition, causing them to lose weight.
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Pale combs/wattles – Anemia from worms causes pale combs and wattles.
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Decreased egg production – Heavy worm loads will reduce or stop egg-laying.
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Diarrhea – Some worms cause watery, bloody diarrhea.
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Gapeworms make chickens gasp for air and stretch their necks out as they try to breathe.
If you notice multiple symptoms, especially weight loss and digestive issues, get a fecal test or vet exam to check for worms.
Preventing Worms in Backyard Chickens
Even though light worm loads are normal sometimes, you can do the following to reduce the number of worms in your flock:
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Rotate pastures – Move chicken coops/tractors frequently to prevent buildup of worm eggs in the soil.
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Use gravel runs – Gravel is less hospitable to worm eggs than bare dirt runs.
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Clean litter – Replace coop litter frequently to eliminate worm eggs.
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Remove feces – Daily picking up of chicken droppings disrupts the worm life cycle.
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Control pests – Treat for insects like slugs/snails that carry worm larvae.
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Garlic/ACV – Some chicken keepers add garlic or apple cider vinegar to water to make chickens’ guts less inviting to worms.
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Diatomaceous earth – Sprinkling DE in runs or feed may help discourage worms.
Following good biosecurity practices is key to keeping worms under control in your flock naturally.
Treating Worm Infections in Chickens
If your chickens have a moderate to severe worm infestation, anti-worm medication may be necessary. Here are some treatment options:
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Chemical dewormers – Products like ivermectin are very effective but should be used carefully to avoid overuse. Talk to your vet.
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Natural dewormers – Some chicken keepers use deworming herbs like garlic, pumpkin seeds, papaya. Research proper dosing.
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Electrolytes/probiotics – Give electrolytes and gut health probiotics to help recovery post-deworming.
When using chemical dewormers:
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Follow label directions carefully. Overdosing can harm chickens.
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Repeat 2 weeks later to kill newly hatched worms.
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Check for effectiveness with a fecal test 2 weeks post-treatment.
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Rotate wormer types. Using the same dewormer repeatedly can lead to resistance.
Caecal worm (Heterakis Gallinarum)
You may not even notice the presence of these worms, as there are no obvious symptoms or bad side effects in chickens, usually. They are light grey or white, curiously S-shaped, and grow up to ¾ inch. Problems only occur if you are keeping turkeys, which can succumb to a fatal condition known as blackhead as a result of eating caecal worm eggs.
These inhabit the birds’ trachea and lungs, making them short of breath. A gaping beak, neck-stretching and head-shaking are clues that infection may have occurred. The worms are red, and grow to more than ¾ inch in length. They come in pairs, joined to form a ‘Y’ shape.
Gizzard worm (Amidostomum Anseris).
Uncommon in chickens – this is mainly a goose parasite – they take up residence in birds’ gizzards. Chickens that live with or near geese may become infested. Affected birds rapidly lose weight. Hair worm, (Capillaria – various species). Found in the crop, oesophagus, proventriculus and intestine. They are very thin, and grow up to ¾ inch. Infected birds suffer diarrhoea and anaemia, and the birds look unwell, with a hunched posture and sagging wings. Death follows unless the condition is treated. To avoid getting worm eggs, keep the grass short (UV light kills them) and turn the ground over so that muddy areas don’t build up, which is where they thrive.
This is the commonest of the nematode worms, and the easiest to deal with via a standard wormer. The parasite inhabits the digestive system, and grows up to 8cm long. Pale egg yolks and poor egg production are symptoms that should prompt you to investigate. The worms turn up in droppings, and will eventually take over the chicken’s digestive and egg-laying systems.
An intestinal parasite, and the only worm mentioned here that does not belong to the nematode family. Hard to spot, the ones that invade chickens reach just 1/6 inch in length. Infected birds will eat lots but lose weight, and their laying will be affected.
Roundworm, Gizzard worm, Hair worm and Caecal worm are all transmitted from chicken to chicken via egg-infested droppings. The eggs can lie dormant on soiled ground for up to a year. Gapeworms and Tapeworms are picked up via an intermediate host such as a slug, snail or earthworm.
“How do I know if my Chickens have Worms?!”
FAQ
How to check if your chicken has worms?
Birds carrying worms show similar signs, including:slow growth. reduced appetite and weight loss. ruffled feathers, droopiness and an unthrifty look. diarrhoea. reduced egg production. pale comb.
How do chickens act if they have worms?
Eventually, they will become lethargic, tail down and not interested in eating.May 2, 2023
What do chicken worms look like?
Chicken worms vary in appearance depending on the type. Roundworms are typically white or yellowish-white, long, and slender, resembling spaghetti. Tapeworms are flat, segmented, and ribbon-like, sometimes appearing as white, rice-like segments in droppings. Caecal worms are small, white, and pointed at both ends, resembling miniature earthworms.
How can I get rid of worms in my chicken?
Fenbendazole is currently approved for use on chickens to treat adult roundworms and cecal worms. It also works on other types of worms. Jan 24, 2022.