Owners of both large poultry farms and personal farms encounter worms in chickens. Reproduction of helminths occurs rapidly: both individual organs and the whole body as a whole, both young animals and adults, are affected. How to prevent infection of birds and what to do in case of invasion - information in the article.
Causes and ways of infection
The defeat of chickens by helminths depends on the state of the bird's immune system. In turn, the following factors influence the formation of strong immunity:
- mode and quality of feeding;
- conditions of detention;
During free walking, the risk of contracting worms increases.
- sanitary and hygienic conditions in the household.
Helminth life cycle
Worm eggs enter the body of the chicken alimentary way - through infection with larvae:
- food products;
- earthen surfaces;
- insects, worms, snails that live in the soil, which are carriers of helminths;
- household items.
Depending on the type of helminth, in order to reach the mature stage, the larvae can be localized in:
- lungs
- heart muscle;
- liver
- brain of a bird.
After reaching a certain stage of development, parasites of many species migrate to the intestine, where their increased reproduction occurs.
Larvae are released into the environment with a litter closing the development circle.
Worm larvae may be present on the eggshell of infected chickens.
Types and symptoms
Invasion is manifested in several ways:
- a healthy bird with strong immunity can be a long-term carrier of various types of worms, clinical symptoms may be absent;
- with moderate severity of the lesion, clinical manifestations of invasion may be observed;
- when infected with several types of helminths and weak immunity, the invasion ends with the death of the carrier.
In laboratory studies of dysfunctional farms, invasion of a mixed type is usually observed in chickens - simultaneous parasitization of different types of helminths.
Most often, infection with 3 types of helminths is diagnosed.
Heteracidosis (Parasitocenosis)
The causative agent of heterocytosis is the small nematode Heterakis gallinarum, which reaches an average length of 10 mm. Parasitizes in the cecum of the bird. From the larval stage to the mature state, the parasite disappears in 4 weeks.
Helminth eggs are resistant to changing environmental conditions and retain their invasive properties for a long time. In violation of hygienic conditions, increased reproduction of the parasite in the litter occurs and, as a result, massive infection of chickens.
Heterocidosis is chronic, the symptoms are as follows:
- unstable appetite;
- lethargy;
- decrease in egg production;
- stunted growth in young animals;
- diarrhea.
Diagnosing this pathology during life is difficult, the helminth is determined posthumously.
Capillariosis
The causative agent of the disease is the nematode C. Contorta. Helminths are located in the mucous membrane of the esophagus, goiter, and the oral cavity of chickens. The sexually mature stage is achieved in 4 weeks, the life span of the parasite is about 7 weeks.
Mostly chickens are sick up to 4 months of age, the peak of the disease is observed in the summer.
The main symptoms in this case are:
- digestion disorder - worms localized on the mucous membranes of the digestive tract in large clusters, cause swelling, hemorrhage and inflammatory reactions;
- lethargy is noted;
- loss of appetite, and as a result - a decrease in growth;
- mortality is often observed.
They diagnose capillary disease by clinical signs, laboratory tests and pathological changes.
Ascariasis
The causative agent of the disease is the largest nematode, chicken Ascaridia dalli. The length of the female can reach 12 cm. The period of parasitization in the intestines of the chicken is from several months to a year.
Ascaridosis is most dangerous for chickens of egg-laying breeds (productivity decreases by 30%) and young animals up to 6 months of age.
Signs of invasion are observed a week after infection:
- appetite is reduced or absent;
- lethargy;
- diarrhea;
- exhaustion;
- growth retardation and weight gain;
- there may be nervous breakdowns.
Pathological changes indicate inflammatory processes in the intestine with hemorrhages. It is often possible to detect a rupture of the intestinal wall and blockage of the intestinal lumen by parasites.
Treatment
For deworming chickens of all ages:
- use veterinary preparations, which are dosed and mixed with dry food or water;
- litter containing dead parasites is thoroughly cleaned and burned;
- during treatment, the bird is transferred to clean rooms;
- adhere to the diet recommended by the veterinarian.
With ascariasis use drugs:
- Piperazine is used for 2 consecutive days in the following doses:
- up to 3 months of age - 0.1 g per day;
- older young animals and adults - 0.25 g per day.
- Perhaps the use of piperazine in combination with phenothiazine:
- young animals up to 3 months - 0.2 g / kg;
- adult - 0.5 g / kg.
- Piperazine dithiocarbomat - 0.2 g / kg.
- Nilverm - 0.04 g / kg, with mixed invasions, the dose is increased to 0.08 g / kg.
- Tetramisole - 0.2 g / kg.
- Hygrovetin - 1.5 kg of the drug per 1 ton of feed.
With heterokydosis apply the same drugs as with ascariasis. In small farms, you can apply Carbon tetrachloride in a dose of 2-4 ml per head.
With capillary disease apply once:
- Ivomec micro-granulated - 200 mcg / kg with feed.
- Levamisole - 30 mg / kg with water or food.
You can also use benzimidazole preparations (used with food):
- Febentel - 15 mg / kg in a row for 2 days.
- Fenbendazole - 10 mg / kg once a day for 4 days.
- Mebendazole - 6 mg / kg for 7 days.
The use of drugs from worms, from the name of the drug to the establishment of the dosage, is appropriate only after consulting a veterinarian.
Folk remedies
Alternative methods of treatment are not as effective as chemicals. They can be used as a preventative or additional measure:
- finely chopped garlic or onions are added to the finished feed poultry farmers;
- instead of water, decoctions of wormwood, sorrel, and chamomile are used.
Preventive measures
For the prevention of helminthiases, there are some rules for keeping chickens:
- bird cage recommended;
- young and adult chickens must be kept separate;
- newly acquired birds should be quarantined;
- compliance with sanitary and hygienic standards (thorough cleaning of premises and surrounding areas, the use of clean dishes for water and feed);
- timely preventive deworming of the entire livestock.
Worming is a serious chicken disease. The bird, becoming infected by itself, becomes a carrier, endangering not only the surrounding bird, but also humans. You can protect the economy from mass damage by following the recommendations of a veterinarian and using medications for prevention.