One of the management practices in a poultry business is deworming. Deworming is the getting rid or expelling of parasitic worms within the birds' system by giving the birds anthelmintic drugs like a wormer or dewormer. This revamps the birds' production potential, thus, bringing the birds back to production.
All birds are susceptible to worm infestation, especially birds kept under deep litter system. Younger birds are more vulnerable. Worms are great threat to birds, especially in laying birds; they are capableof reducing production drastically. Some may cause death in a case of severe infestation. It takes time for worm infestation to manifest; a good poultry farm manager should design a schedule to deworm the flock at least 3 - 4 times in a year.
Birds show some signs when the worm infestation is becoming severe; these signs are what most poultry farmers look out for.
A proper deworming program has to be designed to mitigate the effects of these signs because the signs come with great drop in production potential, the signs render the birds unproductive and it takes extra time and other resources to recuperate the birds from this threat.
When you observe any of these signs in your birds, you should know that your flock is severely under the threat of parasitic worms.
These signs are:
1. Decreased in feed consumption
This is the first symptom of virtually all poultry disease or infection. When birds are threatened by worms, they eat less; this leads to reduction in feed utilization.
2. Emaciation
Birds become emaciated as a result of low feed utilization. Birds lose weight greatly.
3. Drop in production
this is noticed in laying birds; there is a drastic drop in egg production. The birds are unfit to produce; at times, it takes a very long time for the birds to recover.
4. The birds sleep excessively
Birds are very vibrant and agile animals; it is very normal for birds to sleep but when this is noticed incessantly, then the birds have been hooked by worms
5. Stained vent
Though, this is not always peculiar to worm infestation alone but it’s a good symptoms to know a bird under the infestation of worms.
6. A sharp protruding keel bone
The keel bone is found at the chest region. It is located on the sternum of the bird. When it becomes obvious, it means the birds are severely under worms infestations.
7. Vomiting
This is another good sign that shows a bird is being disturbed by worm.
This happens when the birds have harbour the worm for a very long time or when the birds are infected with gizzard or hair worm.
8. Pale yolk colour
When a bird is seriously under worm infestation, it shows in the egg size and the colour of the yolk. The egg size becomes smaller and irregular; also, a pale coloured yolk is produced.
9. Pale comb and wattle
The comb and wattle are always brightly coloured; when a pale colour yolk is noticed, a worm is likely to be at work.
10. Stretching of neck
When you notice your birds suddenly begin to stretch their necks abruptly or find it difficult to breath, a gape worm is currently disturbing the birds.
How Worms Infects Birds
Birds pick up worms from the floor and ingest or through the droppings of infected birds . Young birds pick up worms easier than the adult birds.
How To Prevent Worm Infestation
• Keep the poultry pen dry always. Worms thrive best in wet and muddy areas.
• Change poultry litter as quick as possible.
• Use biosecurity .
Worms are great threat to poultry production. Prevention is better than cure, these preventive measures should be practiced to keep the flock free from worm
infestation, thus, having increased productivity.
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