Symptoms of worms in chickens and treatment at home, prevention methods
Many poultry owners face the 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 work of internal organs, and with severe infection, they can cause the death of a bird. Consider the types of helminths, symptoms, ways to cure and protect layers from a new infection.
The harm that helminths bring to chickens
Worms are a whole group of worms that parasitize the body of chickens, animals and humans. Parasites live in different organs, leading to exhaustion and weakening of the host. Harm caused by helminths:
- worms deprive chickens of a significant part of nutrients from the feed, lead 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 more easily through damage, 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, patency is impaired, the bird may die.
Worms feed on food eaten by chickens and body tissues, which leads to a noticeable deterioration in the health of birds.
Causes of infection
Worms enter the body in an alimentary way, 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;
- feeding poultry with pasture - free range (earthworms, insects).
A person himself can bring helminths into the chicken coop on clothes and shoes. Note that worms are ubiquitous.
Important: a factor provoking infection is a weakening of the immune system in chickens, which often occurs due to an unbalanced diet and poor living conditions.
Symptoms and types of worms
Disease of chickens is caused by helminths of various types, it is possible to determine the pathogen by the type, nature of the lesion, laboratory tests. Symptoms depend on the severity of the lesion.Many chickens with good immunity, being carriers, are outwardly healthy and have no signs of illness.
Symptoms of all helminthiasis are lack of interest in feeding in chickens, lethargy to complete apathy, dirty, untidy plumage, and discoloration of the comb. The eggs become brittle, with uneven shells, often without an outer shell. The feces take on an unnatural appearance, pieces of parasites, mucus are visible. Egg production decreases.
Amidostomosis
The causative agent is Amidostomum anseris, a nematode up to 2 centimeters. The worms are located at the apex of the digestive tract. Signs - lethargy, lethargy, respiratory disturbances, uneven, wobbly gait.
Capillariasis
The disease is caused by the nematodes Capillariidae. The main carriers of parasites are earthworms, which the laying hens peck at free range. The disease, dangerous for a bird, is characterized by a sharp decrease in appetite, lethargy, diarrhea, and body tremors. Feathers are raised, become dull, dirty, earrings and comb turn white.
Syngamoz
Syngamosis is caused by the worms Syngamidae, which live in the trachea. The disease is dangerous for chickens, young animals die in 80-100% of cases. Signs of infection:
- head shaking;
- cough with wheezing and whistling;
- rapid, uneven breathing;
- stretching the neck;
- discharge of mucus from the beak.
The mucous membranes and the crest turn pale, the chickens are inactive, apathetic.
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 general walking with adult chickens, the mortality rate of chickens is 30%. Signs - apathy, diarrhea with blood, sometimes - vomiting and disorders of nervous activity.
Cestodosis
The general name for several (7) different types of helminthiasis. 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, breathing disorders, convulsions. Cestodoses are observed in unkempt chicken coops, where chickens eat poor-quality feed.
Coccidiosis
The disease is caused by the simplest parasites - Coccidiida, which live in tissue cells. They multiply in the intestines, causing disorders of the mucous membranes and the addition of infections. Chickens are thirsty, plumage becomes dirty and disheveled, sticky mucus on the litter, blotches in feces.
Prostogonymiosis
Helminthic invasion with localization of Prosthogonimidae helminths in the genitals (oviduct) of chickens. Disease dangerous for laying hens, which often leads to death. It is characterized by an increase in temperature, bloating and compaction of the abdomen, and a violation of the release of eggs. Thick mucus comes out instead of an egg. The chicken becomes inactive, does not leave the place, the gait is shaky.
Treatment methods
At the first signs of worm infestation, chickens need to be treated to avoid loss of livestock. For the destruction of helminths, antiparasitic drugs have been developed, there are proven folk methods.
Treatment for chickens includes:
- the introduction of anthelmintic drugs or folk remedies into the feed;
- thorough removal and burning of manure, cleaning the chicken coop, disinfection;
- isolation of sick chickens in clean rooms;
- the use of a dietary diet for sick chickens.
It is especially necessary to carefully monitor the condition of the chickens, since infection with worms is more dangerous for them, often leading to death.
Medication
When choosing a drug, you should seek help from a veterinarian. Many drugs that are constantly used in the region lose their activity, since worms develop resistance to their action. Tips for choosing a drug for worms at home:
- use a wide range of medicines that are effective against different types of worms;
- strictly follow the dosage - drugs are toxic, unsafe if the dose is exceeded;
- study the instructions for use;
- observe the recommended frequency of application, otherwise the worms will again begin to multiply from the larvae;
- use drugs for chickens (not for cats, dogs).
Do not give injections to the bird, add medicine to water or feed. 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. Sick chickens should be treated in an isolated room with a concrete floor. Until the dacha of Flubenvet they do not feed for 10 hours. Dry powder is combined with feed at the rate of 60 grams per 20 heads.
A weekly isolation of patients after treatment is recommended. The 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 Pirantel
The most popular anthelmintic drugs, effective in the treatment and prevention of infection. They belong to low-toxic agents. Dosage - 1/3 tablet per kilogram of bird weight. Tablets are crushed into powder, added to food or drinking water.
Recommendations:
- Piperazine. Give 2 times at intervals of a day, then again in a month. Chickens - one meal. Effective for ascariasis. Use eggs and meat 4 days after taking the drugs.
- Pirantel. The drug is given to the bird 3 times with an interval of 6 days. Designed for adults only, not used for chickens. Eggs are used no earlier than 4 days after therapy.
During the treatment period, the birds are supported with enhanced feeding enriched with vitamin A.
Levamisole-plus
The drug has an anthelmintic and immunostimulating effect. The medicine is produced in the form of solutions, powder in different dosages. Use the drug as an additive to feed, drinking water, or injection. Eggs can be used one week after the treatment of chickens, meat - after 3 days.
Reference: the preparations are toxic, therefore, the dosage is observed, chicken products are used for food within the terms specified in the instructions.
Folk remedies
Most poultry farmers use folk remedies as a preventive measure. Home methods cannot destroy colonies of worms in the body of chickens. With a slight infection, you can drink herbal infusions, give feed additives; strong immunity and healing plants will help chickens to overcome worms. No toxic chemicals are required.
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;
- onion feathers;
- bitter wormwood drives out round and tape parasites;
- celandine (root) will cope with the worms that live in the intestines.
When using herbs, it is necessary to observe moderation and the recommended doses, since worms are destroyed by the poisons contained in plants.
Garlic
The garlic cloves are finely chopped and added to the bird 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 arrows and garlic feathers to green food to protect against worms and raise immunity.
Danger to humans and preventive measures
A person who is in contact with sick chickens can become infected with worms himself. The main types of chicken helminths are 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 your hands with hot water and soap;
- regularly carry out anthelmintic measures for poultry, do not use utensils, equipment outside the hen house.
To protect chickens from worms, you must:
- regularly clean the poultry house, take out manure, if you suspect worms, burn excrement in designated areas;
- use high-quality feed for poultry, maintain the immunity of layers;
- quarantine new chickens;
- keep chickens separate from adult birds;
- ensure normal humidity in the chicken house.
Destroy rodents, insects, do not let your chickens come into contact with alien and wild animals and birds.
Is it possible to eat meat and eggs if chickens have worms
If worms are found in layers, eating meat and eggs is not recommended. After cooking, exposure to high temperatures is minimal, but inseminated food in the kitchen is an increased risk, especially for children.
Parasitologists strongly advise to first destroy the worms, to wait for the time recommended for the drug so that the parasites and drug residues leave the body of the layers. After that, you can eat meat and eggs without risk of infection.
Compliance with preventive measures protects chickens from infection with worms. A balanced diet strengthens the immunity of birds, maintaining cleanliness and moisture in the chicken coop prevents parasites from infecting all livestock. Modern antihelminthic drugs will help cure helminthiasis, prevent loss of livestock and material damage.
