Cecal Worms also called-Heterakis gallinae, are intestinal parasites which use chickens, turkeys, and other birds as a host to feed upon. Cecal worms are white, can be found in the lumen of cecal pouches, and can range in size from 1/4 to 1/ 2 inches long. It may be difficult to determine whether or not your chickens have cecal worms without a stool sample because there are not usually visual symptoms with this type of worm until infestation is severe. (1)
Chickens, turkeys, and other birds are the most likely source of cecal worms. Studies suggest cecal worms are the cause of blackhead and are transferred from bird to bird from a protozoan parasite which produces eggs in the ceca which is then transferred into the birds feces. Chickens should not be allowed to eat earthworms because earthworms eat cecal worm eggs which then infects the chickens who eat the earthworm.
Symptoms of Cecal worm infestations in chickens are:
Treatment
7 Ways to Prevent Worms from infesting your chickens
Chickens, turkeys, and other birds are the most likely source of cecal worms. Studies suggest cecal worms are the cause of blackhead and are transferred from bird to bird from a protozoan parasite which produces eggs in the ceca which is then transferred into the birds feces. Chickens should not be allowed to eat earthworms because earthworms eat cecal worm eggs which then infects the chickens who eat the earthworm.
Symptoms of Cecal worm infestations in chickens are:
- Malnutrition-Chicken does not get the right balance of vitamins and nutrients needed
- Emaciation-Chicken becomes abnormally weak and thin.
- Anemia-A red blood cell deficiency which causes birds to become pale and weak.
- Inflammation-Cellular injury which can cause inflamed areas to be sore, red and feel hot to the touch.
- Damage to the chickens crop, esophageal walls, or small intestine.
- In cases of heavy cecal worm infestations the chickens will die.
Treatment
- Keep your birds separated by age groups.
- Separate the suspected infested birds from the rest of your flock right away to prevent spreading infestation to other bird
- Fenbendazole is the most common form of treatment
- Clean and disinfect coop, nest boxes, feed and water dishes, and anything the birds come in contact with.
- Move your chicken coop if possible.
- Don't let your birds free range on rainy days when earthworms are most likely to be above ground.
7 Ways to Prevent Worms from infesting your chickens
- University of Connecticut Poultry Fact Sheet. http://web.uconn.edu/poultry/poultrypages/diseasefactsheet.html
- Recognizing and preventing internal parasites in small flocks. https://extension.umd.edu/sites/extension.umd.edu/files/_images/programs/poultry/FS-999%20Recognizing%20and%20Preventing%20Internal%20Parasites%20in%20Small%20Flocks.pdf