Smallholders Worm Advice Service
2023: Sorry, our books are full - we can't take on any new clients
If you have sent us a sample before - then please continue to send your samples to Emily as usual
POULTRY ¶sites
Chickens, ducks & game birds are essential and much loved members of the small holding.
But it often feels like everything is out to get them!
There are lots of worms trying to infect your flock - but with regular poo-checks you can keep them safe.
Recommended WEC testing frequency: 2-3 times per year
Optimum Schedule: April & October
Plus: new arrivals, mid winter if in Flu Flock-Down
ascarid lifecycle
diarrhoea
under the microscope
ascarid lifecycle
ASCARIDS
aka the Large Roundworm Nematodes:
Ascaridia Galli (all poultry) &
Ascaridia dissimilis (turkeys)
SYMPTOMS
Large, thick white worms, up to 12cm long
Diarrhoea
Lethargy
Poor body condition
Slow growth rate
Death
The turkey worm migrates through the liver - causing liver disease
Under microscope
Diarrhoea
depression
Under microscope
HAIRWORMS
aka Capillaria:
SYMPTOMS
Small thread-like worms - barely visible to the eye
Diarrhoea
Weight loss
Depression
Death
Segments passed in poo
Only affects chicks
Segments passed in poo
Segments passed in poo
tapeworm
aka the Cestodes:
Davainea, Raillietina
SYMPTOMS
Look horrible when wriggling out - but surprisingly harmless!
Heavy burdens in Chicks causes:
Anorexia
Reduced gut motility
Poor growth rate
diarrhoea
Lifecycle
weakness
diarrhoea
coccidia
aka Coccidiosis:
Eimeria
SYMPTOMS
Diarrhoea (often pasty)
Blood & mucus in faeces
Skinny & weak
Abdominal Pain
Permanent gut damage
Reduced egg production
Death in chicks
Healthy adults will often have coccidia in their faeces - interpret positive samples with care before using a coccidiostat
affects turkeys, peacocks and game
unkempt feathers
yellow diarrhoea
affects turkeys, peacocks and game
HETERAKIS
aka Heterakis gallinarium:
the caecal worm
SYMPTOMS
15cm worm which causes little damage itself, but transmits:
HISTOMONAS: 'BLACKHEAD'
Turkeys & game birds
Listless
Droopy wings
Unkempt feathers
Yellow diarrhoea
Death
Heterakis isolonche is highly pathogenic in pheasants, causing up to 50% mortality
poor condition in guinea fowl & game
affects gamebirds
poor condition in guinea fowl & game
GIZZARD WORM
Amidostomum anseris
SYMPTOMS:
Slim reddish worms, lives in the gizzard
mainly game birds:
Depression
Anaemia
Stunted growth
Poor condition
Weight loss
Dyspnoea - difficulty breathing
red worms in trachea
Dyspnoea - difficulty breathing
GAPEWORM
Syngamus trachea
(Cyathostoma bronchialis in geese & ducks)
SYMPTOMS
Particularly a problem in turkeys & pheasants, but any young bird can be affected
Dyspnoea (laboured breahing)
Head shaking
Coughing
Anaemia
Emaciation
Weakness
Asphyxiation
Affects ducks and other waterfowl
Youngsters particularly vulnerable
anaemia
Affects ducks and other waterfowl
DUCK GIZZARD WORM
Amidostomum anseris
SYMPTOMS
Ducks & other waterfowl
Listlessness
Weakness
Diarrhoea
Anaemia
Poor growth rate
Mainly affects chicks, but adults can be affected
Worming Treatment Options
-
Always keep a precise record of dates of administration and batch numbers
-
POM-V products require a vet prescription, POM-VPS are obtained from a licensed pharmacist (eg online) who will ask some relevant questions
Flubendazole
Treats: ascarids, gapeworm, large roundworm, heterakis, hairworm, and gizzard worm in chickens, turkeys, and geese
Brand names: Flubenvet 1%, generic flubendazole 1%
Broad spectrum powder, added to food daily for 7 consecutive days, repeated after 3 weeks if birds were symptomatic. POM/VPS
Drug
Method
Dose
Egg Withdrawal
Meat Withdrawal
Flubendazole
Oral
30 ppm
ZERO
7 days
Fenbendazole
Treats: ascarids, gapeworm, large roundworm, heterakis, hairworm, and gizzard worm
Brand names: Panacur, Lapizole, generic 2.5 or 10% fenbendazole
Broad spectrum. Liquid - easy to accurately dose and administer by crop tube, helpful in sick individuals or birds not eating their ration of flubenvet in-feed. Is off licence, so strict withdrawal periods of 7 days for eggs and 28 days for meat - from the last dose given.
In sick birds give 50mg/Kg once daily for 3 days, otherwise use 100mg/Kg as single dose
Drug
Method
Dose
Egg Withdrawal
Meat Withdrawal
Fenbendazole
Oral liquid
50 - 100 mg / Kg
7 days
28 days
Toltrazuril
Treats: Coccidia
Brand names: Baycox
Oral liquid, added to drinking water. POM-V a prescription from your vet is required
Accurate calculations are required to get the correct concentration in drinking water .
Highly alkaline & irritant - must be diluted 1 in 20 in orange juice if administered to a sick individual
Drug
Method
Dose
Egg withdrawal
Meat Withdrawal
Toltrazuril
Oral Liquid
7 mg / Kg
Not to be used in a commercial egg laying flock
16 days
Diatomaceous Earth
Ingredients: microscopic fossilized diatoms, ground into a powder
Brands: generic, multi-mite
DE works by physically traumatizing the external walls of parasites.
Multiple clinical trials have proven reduction in worms burdens from roundworms, heterakis, gizzard worms and tapeworms, with some effect against coccidia.
Trials have found flocks with DE added to feed have a higher egg yield and lay larger eggs with bigger yolks.
Drug
Method
Dose
Milk Withdrawal
Meat withdrawal
NONE
powder added to food
1 tsp /bird
ZERO
ZERO
controltips
Good parasite control is about more than using a drug every 3 months,
you can reduce risk & use of anthelminthic drugs:
-
Avoid previously flooded grazing
-
Reduce mud - eg. add gravel around pop-holes
-
Always use a feeder, avoid scattering feed on floor
-
Keep grass short to increase sunlight on the earth
-
Rotational graze if possible
-
Ensure new animals have a clear faeces check
-
Be fastidious with food & water bowl cleanliness