Many animals suffer from worms and parasites from time to time and chickens and geese are no exception. Poultry that is kept outdoors with contact with garden soil or indoors on sawdust, straw or other litter materials can pick up parasitic worms.  As more people keep their birds outdoors in a free range way, they will be increasingly exposed to worms and parasites so this is a problem that is likely to become more important in the coming years.

About worms

Parasitic worms can live in the guts and even respiratory airways of chickens, ducks and other birds. There are many different types including roundworms, hairworms and gapeworms. The worms all produce eggs which the bird excretes in its droppings. The worm eggs are not immediately infectious - they first have to develop so that a larval immature worm can hatch from the egg when conditions are right. The worm egg could be eaten by a bird from the ground, or the egg could hatch and the larval worm could be eaten. In some cases another species such as a normal earth worm, will eat the worm egg and when the earthworm is eaten the larval parasitic worm will be released inside the bird.

Once infection has been established it continues as each female worm inside the chicken lays thousands of eggs each day which then contaminate the environment in a constantly repeating cycle. Worm eggs on the ground can remain in an infectious state for years and can resiste disinfectants.

Symptoms

If you keep poultry, and you are concerned about the health of your birds and the quality of eggs they produce. Worms affect both!

Poultry with worms can become ill, lose weight, are dull and in poor condition. Some may become anaemic, showing pale wattles and rough feathers. Some birds die. In some cases there will be little to see externally despite a worm infection. Chickens with worms may lay fewer, smaller eggs and show poor shell colour and strength or pale yolk colour. IN a small number of cases, worms have been found in the egg itself. 

Prevention

• It is almost impossible to completely prevent parasitic worms but there are good practices that can help.
• Always feed from feeders rather than direct on the ground
• If possible, move your poultry to clean grass on a regular basis
• Avoid muddy areas, put down stones in strategic areas to clean feet  and allow droppings to dry.
• Keep grass short to expose worm eggs to sunlight which destroys them

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