Internal Parasites (Worms): Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

What Are Internal Parasites?

Internal parasites, or worms, are organisms that live inside a chicken's body — in the intestines, esophagus, or cecum. The three most common types in gamefowl are:

• Roundworms (Ascaridia galli) — the most common, found in the intestines
• Tapeworms (Raillietina) — flat and segmented, spread through insects
• Cecal worms (Heterakis gallinarum) — live in the cecum

While they don't kill immediately, worms gradually siphon nutrients from your birds — causing weight loss even when the bird is eating well.

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Symptoms

• Weight loss despite eating well — this is the classic sign of worms
• Pale comb and wattles
• Decreased egg production
• Visible worms in droppings (in severe cases)
• Diarrhea, overall poor condition

Tip: You won't always see worms in the droppings. Even if none are visible, if your bird is losing weight and has a pale comb, go ahead and deworm.

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Treatment: Wormal Tablet

How to Administer Wormal

1. Get the correct dosage (½ or 1 tablet)
2. Carefully open the bird's beak
3. Place the tablet at the back of the tongue
4. Close the beak and hold briefly until the bird swallows

Recovery Phase

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Deworming Schedule

To prevent worm problems, set a regular deworming schedule:

Pro tip: Log your deworming schedule in the FarmHub Health Hub so you get a reminder for the next deworming.

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Prevention

• Deworm on schedule — every 2 months, don't skip it
• Keep the coop clean — remove droppings daily
• Avoid overcrowding — more birds in a small space means worms spread faster
• Replace the soil/sand in the coop regularly

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Golden Rules of Deworming

1. Give Vitmin Pro after deworming — not at the same time. It's for recovery support only; administer for 3 days after the treatment.
2. Don't deworm sick birds. Make sure the bird is healthy before deworming — a stressed or sick bird will have a harder time recovering.
3. Isolate heavily infested birds from the healthy flock while treating.
4. Follow a regular deworming schedule — every 2 months for adults. Don't wait until you see worms before deworming.
5. Clean the coop after deworming — remove droppings so the birds don't get reinfected.
6. Complete the full treatment even if the bird looks fine. Stopping early risks creating drug-resistant parasites.
7. Prevention is better than treatment. Clean coop, dry sand, regular deworming, and proper vaccination.

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Disclaimer: This guide is for reference purposes and is based on manufacturer product labels and published poultry health sources. Consult a veterinarian for severe or unusual cases. Observe the proper withdrawal period before consuming meat or eggs from treated birds.