Tapeworm Hell

[FunnyBunny89]

I use a syringe I got from when I was cleaning out my wisdom tooth holes after removal. I'm trying to follow the guidelines posted elsewhere on this site, but I'm not great at measurements. All the birds I've had to treat are roughly 5-6 lbs, minus the roo who is probably closer to 8 lbs. I mean, it's been successful for most of the hens, just not the recurring ones. But they would look better for a while before the worms would show up again, so either I didn't get them at the right time/dose, or they got reinfected. Considering I've had to treat 10 (so far)out of my flock of 16 (because I was able to identify each one by their poops), I think I'm dealing with reinfections for some of them.

I treated my roo twice, and he's looking much better now. I've treated one hen 3 times, four hens twice, and the rest only one time. The ones who I haven't treated haven't had any issues or worms in their poops, so I won't bother unless I have reason to.

 

[Cindy610]

I have used the 8 lb dosage even on the smaller birds. I think some of the paste stays in the syringe. Also there are air bubbles so I push some out and pull in some to make sure it is solid. if you had a second area fenced off for the offenders you could probably watch easier. 16 bird would due me in for sure! Good luck and keep up the battle. My concern was that the worm would build up a resistance to the meds so I probably over did it.

 

[FunnyBunny89]

I have used the 8 lb dosage even on the smaller birds. I think some of the paste stays in the syringe. Also there are air bubbles so I push some out and pull in some to make sure it is solid. if you had a second area fenced off for the offenders you could probably watch easier. 16 bird would due me in for sure! Good luck and keep up the battle. My concern was that the worm would build up a resistance to the meds so I probably over did it.

Hey! I just wanted to share with you that I finally eradicated the infestation (I think!). I am keeping up with the fly traps for one. For two, the lady at the local feed store told me to put a single crushed clove of garlic in the chicken's water, and I added apple cider vinegar to the water per someone else's recommendation. I also added chili flakes and oregano to their feed. For three, I continued to treat each chicken with Equimax as I found their wormy poops, and we are finally 4 days worm free! And their poops all look healthy and normal. I am going to keep adding the garlic to their water as I change it out for another week as a preventive measure. I have VetRx handy now but I don't think I'll need it. I am SO RELIEVED! If anyone else has the same problem I ran into, now they know how to deal with it. Personally, I think it's the garlic that is making all the difference because their poop smells like garlic too highly effective.

As a bonus, I noticed their water stayed fresher longer with the garlic/apple cider vinegar mixture too.

 

[Cindy610]

Good Job! I tried all of that also. I did find that 12 days apart of the second dose still found just a few worms so then I did it 10 days apart and that was it. Good luck! Scoop that poop and keep the faith!

 

[FunnyBunny89]

Good Job! I tried all of that also. I did find that 12 days apart of the second dose still found just a few worms so then I did it 10 days apart and that was it. Good luck! Scoop that poop and keep the faith!

Thank you! I am scoopin'!

 

[Cindy610]

Thank you! I am scoopin'!

Ok, my three ladies that had the tapeworm have it again. The last day I medicated was the 20th of September. Here is my thinking... Only the three birds that had it have it again so I don't think it is a reinfection. I think the wormer did not completely finish it off. Last year I had to do a third dose to finish it off. I will keep them separated until I know for sure we are done! So disappointed!

 

[Cindy610]

Ok, my three ladies that had the tapeworm have it again. The last day I medicated was the 20th of September. Here is my thinking... Only the three birds that had it have it again so I don't think it is a reinfection. I think the wormer did not completely finish it off. Last year I had to do a third dose to finish it off. I will keep them separated until I know for sure we are done! So disappointed!

Sara Franklin

All-star contributor
Tapeworms are resistant to many meds, and many simply don't work on them. What you need is Zimecterin Gold (has to be the one with Praziquantel). It is a paste that is administered orally and is very affordable. You will want to withhold feed, take it away before they go to roost, dose first thing the next morning and then wait to give it back for a few hours after. The birds will be very hungry, but this is good because so will the tapes and they will be weakened and easier to eliminate. When you do give their feed back make sure to do so gradually so that they don't gorge themselves. Work back up to normal feeding over the course of that day.
In 10 days, re-dose using the same process. This med won't kill eggs, only adult worms so the 10 day wait gives any eggs time to hatch so that you can take them out also. The correct dosage is .06 ml per lb of body weight. I found it easiest to use a syringe to measure the amount needed onto a gloved fingertip, hold their beak open and smear the medication along the inside edge of their beak. After each treatment, once they are given back their feed you can offer cooked rice with buttermilk, or cooked rice and probiotics in their water. Rice is given as a treat to settle their stomach. Follow directions on the probiotic powder if that is what will be used.
We just treated a case of tapes with this method and confirmed with a fecal test at the vet that they were successfully eliminated. I hope this helps

here's the image of the medication you need.

 

[dawg53]

Sara Franklin

All-star contributor
Tapeworms are resistant to many meds, and many simply don't work on them. What you need is Zimecterin Gold (has to be the one with Praziquantel). It is a paste that is administered orally and is very affordable. You will want to withhold feed, take it away before they go to roost, dose first thing the next morning and then wait to give it back for a few hours after. The birds will be very hungry, but this is good because so will the tapes and they will be weakened and easier to eliminate. When you do give their feed back make sure to do so gradually so that they don't gorge themselves. Work back up to normal feeding over the course of that day.
In 10 days, re-dose using the same process. This med won't kill eggs, only adult worms so the 10 day wait gives any eggs time to hatch so that you can take them out also. The correct dosage is .06 ml per lb of body weight. I found it easiest to use a syringe to measure the amount needed onto a gloved fingertip, hold their beak open and smear the medication along the inside edge of their beak. After each treatment, once they are given back their feed you can offer cooked rice with buttermilk, or cooked rice and probiotics in their water. Rice is given as a treat to settle their stomach. Follow directions on the probiotic powder if that is what will be used.
We just treated a case of tapes with this method and confirmed with a fecal test at the vet that they were successfully eliminated. I hope this helps

here's the image of the medication you need.

Where have I heard this before? LOL.
I'm glad someone is following my recommendations for treating tapeworms and recovery.
Keep in mind that insects are the vector for tapeworm infections in chickens. Control insects as best as you can, and keep in mind that not all insects will be hosts for tapeworms.

 

[Cindy610]

Where have I heard this before? LOL.
I'm glad someone is following my recommendations for treating tapeworms and recovery.
Keep in mind that insects are the vector for tapeworm infections in chickens. Control insects as best as you can, and keep in mind that not all insects will be hosts for tapeworms.

Question, chickens can also be the host if they eat the tapeworm eggs off the ground or off plants? How long after first medication are tapeworm, eggs still produced and shed into the soil?

 

[dawg53]

No, the tapeworm eggs must be eaten by an insect. The infected insect then must be eaten by a chicken in order for the chicken to become tapeworm infected. It's called the "Indirect lifecycle" of tapeworms.

Chickens are more susceptible to roundworm infections since the roundworm eggs can be picked up off the soil and eaten/swallowed, which starts their lifecycle. This is called the "Direct lifecycle."
Chickens are always pecking the soil. They pick up the eggs and are swallowed, starting the roundworms lifecycle.
Dont confuse the roundworms lifecycle with the tapeworms lifecycle.

Once Praziquantel is given to a tapeworm infected chicken, the tapeworm will be excreted within 3 hours. Depending on the size of the tapeworm; you might see jellyfish looking strands excreted, broken up flat pieces of tapeworm excreted in pieces. You may not see anything due to a small sized tapeworm.

Benzimidazoles are effective against all types of poultry roundworms.
Roundworms may be excreted in feces a few hours or sooner after dosing with a Benzimidazole. They will be dead or dying, they cannot survive outside their host. Benzimidazoles are effective for 3 days after dosing.
It always best to reworm chickens 10-14 days after the first dosing to kill worms hatched from eggs.