Claire Thompson
Raising backyard chickens comes with the risk of exposing them to parasites. Parasites can cause severe disease and even death, making good parasite control important. Chickens are commonly infected with both internal parasites (worms, tapeworms, coccidia, and other protozoa) and external parasites (fleas, lice, mites, and ticks). While it is uncommon to treat chicks as young as three weeks old for parasites, it is not unheard of. Fenbendazole is the only product approved in the US for treating roundworms and cecal worms in chickens. However, other medications like levamisole and flubendazole can also be used. It is always best to consult a veterinarian for advice on the most effective and safe treatment program for your chickens.
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What You'll Learn
Common parasites in chicks
Internal and external parasites are common in chicks and adult chickens. Internal parasites include worms and protozoal infections. The most common worms found in chickens are roundworms (ascarids or Ascaridia galli), which can grow up to 3-5 cm in length and are white. They are often found in the droppings of heavily infested birds and can lead to intestinal blockage, resulting in the chicken's death. Other common worms include tapeworms, cecal worms, gapeworms, and threadworms. Protozoal infections, such as coccidia and histomonas, can also affect chickens and cause diseases like coccidiosis and blackhead.
External parasites of chickens include fleas, lice, mites, and ticks. The chicken body louse (Menacanthus stramineus) is typically 1-3 mm long, yellow, and flat. It has a life cycle of around three weeks and is commonly found around the vent area and under the wings. Northern Fowl Mite is another type of mite that affects chickens and is passed from hen to hen.
To control and treat these parasites, regular faecal tests and inexpensive home collection kits can be used for detection. For worms, treatments such as piperazine and levamisole are effective. Coccidia can be treated with toltrazuril, but it must be added to the drinking water as per directions. Louse powder can be used to control lice, and feathers with eggs should be removed and safely disposed of to prevent further infestation.
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How to identify parasites in chicks
Internal and external parasites are two of the most common health issues for chicks. Internal parasites live within a chick's body, stealing nutrition from its diet and potentially causing major internal organ damage. External parasites include the Northern Fowl mite and the chicken body louse, Menacanthus stramineus. The latter is usually 1–3 mm in length, yellow, and flat in appearance, with a life cycle of around three weeks.
There are several types of internal parasites that can affect chicks, including nematodes, cestodes, and protozoans. Nematodes are a common type of roundworm that can invade different parts of a chick's body. They can be identified by their tubular shape and where they are found in the chick's body. Cestodes are ribbon-shaped flatworms, while trematodes are leaf-shaped flatworms. Tapeworms are another type of flatworm that can be identified by their segmented bodies.
One of the best ways to identify internal parasites is by examining the chick's feces. Worm and roundworm eggs can be seen in the droppings, although a microscope may be needed to see smaller eggs. Chickens can directly or indirectly ingest worm eggs. Direct ingestion occurs when they eat the worm egg, while indirect ingestion occurs when they eat an earthworm or bug that is hosting worm eggs.
Protozoans are microscopic parasites that cannot be seen with the naked eye and will not be visible in feces. Coccidia, cryptosporidia, and histomonads (H. melegridis) are common protozoan parasites that affect chickens. Histomonads are carried by cecal worms, which typically do not affect chickens but can carry the protozoan parasite that causes histomoniasis (blackhead disease) in turkeys. Chickens with cecal worms may show signs of listlessness, poor appearance, dull feathers, and depression.
Severe worm infestations can cause a blockage in the gut, leading to lethargy and a cessation of eating. A gaping beak, neck-stretching, and head-shaking may also indicate a worm infection.
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Safe treatments for parasites in chicks
It is important to treat parasites in chicks to prevent them from developing severe diseases and even death. There are several ways to treat parasites in chicks safely and effectively.
Firstly, it is crucial to identify the type of parasite affecting your chicks. Backyard chickens are commonly infected with both internal parasites, such as worms, tapeworms, coccidia, and other protozoa, and external parasites like fleas, lice, mites, and ticks.
To prevent parasites, maintain a clean environment for your chicks. Regularly remove and replace litter to break the parasites' life cycles. Sand can be used in coops and runs to create an inhospitable environment for parasites. Additionally, elevate feeders and waterers to prevent droppings from contaminating them, and thoroughly wash them daily.
For internal parasites, such as worms, it is recommended to consult your veterinarian for advice on safe and effective treatments. Faecal tests can be conducted to identify the specific parasites, and then a worming regime can be developed. Safe treatments for worms include piperazine and fenbendazole (Safe-Guard), which is the only product currently approved for treating roundworms and cecal worms in the United States. Levamisole and flubendazole (Flubenol) can also be used without a withdrawal period. However, it is important to never treat chickens preventatively with de-worming medications.
For external parasites, pyrethrin-based washes, sprays, and powders are generally safe and effective, although they are not registered for poultry use and require a withdrawal period. A newly registered product, flurlaner (Exzolt®), is an in-water medication that has shown high efficacy against all external parasites and has the advantage of being registered for poultry use without a withdrawal period.
It is always recommended to seek advice from your avian veterinarian to determine the most effective and safe treatment programme for your chicks.
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Preventing parasites in chicks
To prevent parasites in chicks, it is important to maintain a clean environment. Regularly clean the chicken coop to prevent flies and other insects from being attracted to it. Chickens can get worms from consuming worm eggs found in the soil and in the faeces of infected birds. Therefore, it is important to remove and replace litter to break parasites' life cycles. Sand can be used in coops and runs, creating an inhospitable environment for parasites.
It is also important to control the hosts of parasites. Insects such as flies, beetles, slugs, and snails can be intermediate hosts for worms, so controlling these insects is key to preventing worm infestations.
In addition, a proper diet is essential for parasite prevention. A diet with balanced ratios of protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals helps keep chickens healthy and less susceptible to parasites. Vitamin A and the B vitamin complex are especially helpful for preventing internal parasites. Sources of vitamin A include carrots, sweet potatoes, winter squash, pumpkin, and spinach. Sources of B vitamins include sardines, meats, whole grains, and leafy greens.
Natural dewormers, such as vegetables in the brassica and cucurbit family, can also be used to make the environment within a chicken hostile to internal parasites. These vegetables contain sulfurous compounds that are repulsive to internal parasites. However, it is important to note that natural dewormers may take time to work and require consistent use.
Finally, ensure that your chicks always have access to fresh, clean water. Water bowls should be avoided as they can be contaminated by soiled bedding, droppings, and parasites. Instead, use elevated feeders and waterers specifically designed for chicks to prevent contamination.
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When to consult a veterinarian
It is uncommon to have to treat chicks for worms at three weeks old. However, if you suspect that your chicks are infected with parasites, you should consult a veterinarian for advice on the most effective and safe treatment programme.
Veterinarians can perform regular faecal tests to determine the presence and identification of parasites. Once the parasite is identified, a worming regime can be developed. There are only a handful of worms that backyard chicken keepers need to concern themselves with: capillary worms, cecal worms, gapeworms, roundworms, and tapeworms.
Roundworms are very common in backyard chickens. Heavy loads are visible in droppings, can be up to 3" long, and can cause death. Roundworms can be treated with piperazine. Fenbendazole is also approved in the US for use against roundworms in chickens and turkeys.
Tapeworms are another common parasite in chickens. Tapeworms have been found in the thousands in individual chickens. Butynorate in combination with piperazine and phenothiazine has shown some efficacy. Other promising experimental drugs include chlorophene, niclosamide, and praziquantel, none of which are approved in the US.
If you are unable to consult a veterinarian, there are some general measures you can take to prevent and control parasites. Firstly, ensure that feeders and waterers are elevated a few inches off the ground to prevent contamination from droppings. These dishes should be washed and rinsed thoroughly each day to prevent bacterial growth. Secondly, remove and replace litter periodically to break parasites' life cycles. Sand can be used in coops and runs to create an inhospitable environment for parasites.
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Frequently asked questions
The most common intestinal worms found in chicks are roundworms, cecal worms, threadworms, and tapeworms.
Clinical signs associated with high worm burdens can include diarrhea, depression, reduced weight gain, weight loss, anemia, worms in eggs, and decreased egg production. However, these signs are not specific to worms, so a definitive diagnosis should be made by microscopic examination of the feces for worm eggs and/or larvae.
There are several treatments for parasites in chicks, including Fenbendazole, Levamisole, Flubendazole, and Piperazine. It is important to consult your veterinarian for assistance in the diagnosis, treatment, and control of intestinal worms in your flock.
