How Long After Deworming Before See Improvement

[RobertK]

Hi All,
I have a hen who had a messy bottom and pale comb. All rest of the flock are fine. I suspect she has worms.
I administered Valbazen last night. I chose this because, given the season, I wasn't sure her molting state and I also didn't want to risk shock. They say Valbazen kills more slowly and so shock is not as common. Anyway, she was a bit lethargic this morning. I have her in the house, in a carrier with a towel over it, keeping her calm. I gave her some electrolytes. She is drinking and eating. I know I should have tested her poo to see if she had worms and what kind, but we have no vets who will treat chickens in my area. Assuming she does have worms, and this treatment helps, how long before we see improvement - like her comb getting back to bright red? Thanks.

 

[Eggcessive]

If she is molting, that could be why her comb is pale, and molting hens may be a little less energetic and not eat well. Do you have any pictures of her or her poops? Does she lay eggs now, or has she had any problems laying? Can you feel of her crop now, and check it again in early morning to see if it has emptied overnight? Look her over under her belly and vent, and elsewhere for any lice or mites moving on her skin. I would place her back in her flock in the morning if she is the same, but watch that she is not being picked on. They are usually more comfortable with their friends. Valbazen is a good wormer. I would repeat the dose in 10 days to get any worm eggs that hatch.

 

[RobertK]

If she is molting, that could be why her comb is pale, and molting hens may be a little less energetic and not eat well. Do you have any pictures of her or her poops? Does she lay eggs now, or has she had any problems laying? Can you feel of her crop now, and check it again in early morning to see if it has emptied overnight? Look her over under her belly and vent, and elsewhere for any lice or mites moving on her skin. I would place her back in her flock in the morning if she is the same, but watch that she is not being picked on. They are usually more comfortable with their friends. Valbazen is a good wormer. I would repeat the dose in 10 days to get any worm eggs that hatch.

Thank you. I attached photos of her bum. No evidence of mites etc. Note I did try to treat her for fungal and that may no difference. I at first thought maybe it was fungal. She does not appear to be molting. She appears to have all her feathers etc. However, I wasn't sure if she was at the very beginning and didn't want to chance it. I will check her crop. She wasn't necessarily being picked on, but she stopped roosting. She was going into a small pail we put in the coop for nesting. I suspect it was because she felt safer there not being well. When I went to check on her this morning, she was in the pail, face forward towards the back. That is when I intervened. I am not sure about eggs. I have two white egg layers.

 

[Eggcessive]

She looks like her lower belly was pecked or feathers broken, but there may be some pin feathers coming in. I would use some Nustock cream or other bad tasting ointment on her lower belly. She probably is being picked on by others. Do they have plenty of room in their coop and run? Are they getting outside to roam around during the day? Are there multiple feeders and waterers for the meeker birds?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi All,
I have a hen who had a messy bottom and pale comb. All rest of the flock are fine. I suspect she has worms.
I administered Valbazen last night. I chose this because, given the season, I wasn't sure her molting state and I also didn't want to risk shock. They say Valbazen kills more slowly and so shock is not as common. Anyway, she was a bit lethargic this morning. I have her in the house, in a carrier with a towel over it, keeping her calm. I gave her some electrolytes. She is drinking and eating. I know I should have tested her poo to see if she had worms and what kind, but we have no vets who will treat chickens in my area. Assuming she does have worms, and this treatment helps, how long before we see improvement - like her comb getting back to bright red? Thanks.

Thank you. I attached photos of her bum. No evidence of mites etc. Note I did try to treat her for fungal and that may no difference. I at first thought maybe it was fungal. She does not appear to be molting. She appears to have all her feathers etc. However, I wasn't sure if she was at the very beginning and didn't want to chance it. I will check her crop. She wasn't necessarily being picked on, but she stopped roosting. She was going into a small pail we put in the coop for nesting. I suspect it was because she felt safer there not being well. When I went to check on her this morning, she was in the pail, face forward towards the back. That is when I intervened. I am not sure about eggs. I have two white egg layers.

Is this a Leghorn?

Is she molting?

Photos of all of her?

When was her last egg?

Lethargy may not be due to worms. If she's not laid an egg and should have, then I'd give her 1 Calcium Citrate with D3 once daily for a week to see if she improves.

Unfortunately, some hens are very productive and often reproductive problems can start to take their toll on these girls.

 

[RobertK]

She looks like her lower belly was pecked or feathers broken, but there may be some pin feathers coming in. I would use some Nustock cream or other bad tasting ointment on her lower belly. She probably is being picked on by others. Do they have plenty of room in their coop and run? Are they getting outside to roam around during the day? Are there multiple feeders and waterers for the meeker birds?

Yeah, they have room. We bought a shed for them and a huge fence so they could have a big run. However, she is the older gal in the group, and very tiny compared to the others. We do have waterers in several places. We add probiotics but I think we are going to add apple cider vinegar too. She looks better today, but I just wish I could get that comb looking healthy.