Poultry occasionally ingest worms or worm eggs which then multiply inside the bird. Some worm infestations have little or no symptoms, others may result in death. This page lists some common worm problems and what to do about them.

Common Roundworms (Ascarids)

• Symptoms: Unthriftiness, emaciation, lowered egg production.
• Diagnosis: Demonstration of worms in intestine or ova in feces.
• Treatment and Control: Piperazine Wormer.

Cecal Worm

• Symptoms: General signs of unthriftiness although not severe. Their importance is that they serve as a carrier of the organism causing blackhead.
• Diagnosis: Demonstration of worms in intestine or ova in feces.
• Treatment and Control: Phenothiazine and piperazine.

Capillaria

• Symptoms: Unthriftiness, emaciation, lowered egg production.
• Diagnosis: Due to the small size they are difficult to see. When a split intestine is placed in a glass jar of water, the worms float out like the fringe of a rug and appear as if attached to the intestine. Also examine sample of feces for presence of ova.
• Treatment: Hygromycin

Tapeworms

• Symptoms: Unthriftiness, emaciation, lowered egg production.
• Diagnosis: Demonstration of flat, segmented worms in intestine or in fresh feces.
• Treatment and Control: Clean up intermediate hosts such as flies, slugs, beetles, etc. Worm with dibutyltin dilaurate.

This information was provided by Dr. Gary D. Butcher, DVM, PhD, Poultry Veterinarian, College of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville.