Finding out details about disgusting chickens’ parasites is not what you want to do, unless you are a chicken keeper. For them, learning about these very parasites is highly important for keeping their feathered friends healthy.
Parasites as we all know are of two types: External called Ecto-parasites and internal known as Endo-parasites. While knowing about both of them is crucial, here we are focusing on the internal ones only because it can be highly difficult to make out that your chickens have become the host of internal parasites.
Reason? Simple.
Since they live inside the bodies of your hens, you can’t see them.
What Do You Need To Know About Endo-Parasites?
Endo-parasites, commonly called as worms, that feed on birds are of many different types and affect different internal organs. In chickens, following can be found:
- Roundworms – present in the chickens’ digestive system
- Hair worms – Also known as ‘Capillaria’, these worms are present inside the intestines, crop, pro-ventriculus and even in the hens’ oesophagus.
- Gapeworms – They live in the lungs and trachea of chickens and thus, affect their respiratory system.
All of the above mentioned worms are together called Nematodes.
- Tapeworms – Tapeworms come under the category of Cestodes. They are not very common in chickens, but when present tapeworms attach themselves to the intestines of the host.
The chicken worms cannot only cause various infections in chickens, but eventually lead to their death.
Symptoms That Your Chickens Are Serving As Worms’ Host
Since there is no definite list of symptoms that show that your flock is hosting multiple parasites within their bodies, it is advised to let a vet check them regularly so that the problem is dealt at the first stage.
To give you some knowledge about what these worms could cause, here we are listing some common signs that hint towards possible presence of internal parasites in hens.
- Weight loss or sudden weight gain
- Diarrhoea
- Pale wattles and comb showing that the birds are anaemic
- Pale coloured yolk in eggs
- Increased consumption of food
- Shortness of breath (specific to gapeworms)
Diagnosis
For diagnosing if and what kind of worms are living inside your hens, an examination of their dropping is needed. Consult a veterinary doctor or bur a worm kit to do it yourself. In either case, you need to send the sample(s) to the veterinary lab.
Inspect the droppings of your flock regularly (we know it’s disgusting, but you have to do it for the sake of your pets’ health) to see if there are worms. However, presence of worms in the droppings means that there are a lot inside the bird’s body. Therefore, it is recommended that you take preventive measures from start.
Preventive Measures
To eliminate the chances of health problems in your flock due to these parasites, make sure:
- To change the beddings regularly and keep them clean and dry.
- To keep the coop and the run clean and dry. These worms thrive in wet, muddy and warm areas.
- To keep the wild birds away as they can spread the worms in your chickens.
- To keep the grass short in the run. This will help in killing parasites that may be present, due to the ultraviolet rays of sunlight.
- To refrain from overcrowding chickens.
