Diarrhea or normal poop?

[leighks]

The poop below is from my 2 year old red sex link hen. More often than not her stool isn’t the normal solid pieces, but softer (see pic below). She is super active and eats well. This is typical for her but not sure if I should be concerned.

Closer view:

 

[casportpony]

It doesn't look too abnormal. Can you have a vet test it for worms?

 

[leighks]

It doesn't look too abnormal. Can you have a vet test it for worms?

Yeah we have a bird vet, I will have it checked

 

[leighks]

The fecal float showed 2 different parasites- roundworms and tapeworms. Wazine for the rounds, and for the tapes.... well I guess they aren’t very common around here anymore so the vet has a call into Cornell Poultry vet to determine course of treatment. I was reading up on parasite control and it seems like an impossible battle! How can I keep the chickens from eating worms and other bugs? I can’t, not when they free range. I’m looking if anyone has good suggestions for how they deworm their flock and how frequently. I don’t want to medicate unnecessarily but clearly parasites are around.

 

[MrsAuberry00]

I've discovered from experience that there is no 100% effective way to eliminate exposure to worms. Not allowing free ranging and keeping them in the run is the only sure way to limit their exposure and likelihood of having worms, but it isn't even fool proof. I've read some posts of chicken tenders who worm regularly twice a year... once in the fall when egg laying begins to slack off and again in spring just before or as egg laying increases. I'm like you, I don't want to treat unnecessarily, but if enough experienced keepers use that method, that's good enough for me.