IRDC logo

Parasitic Worms and Their Treatment in Domestic Waterfowl

Stock should be wormed routinely twice a year, and on any other occasion which necessitates it e.g. a bird seems ill, or is coughing. Or, check if the birds carry parasitic worms by using Westgate Laboratories worm count kit for chickens, ducks and geese etc. worm count kit for chickens, ducks and geese etc External link image.

More frequent de-worming is needed where large numbers of birds are kept, where the stocking density is high, and where the ground has been used for a number of years and not been rested.

Ducks do seem to suffer less from worms than geese and chickens, but any bird which is under-weight or coughing should be wormed. Worms which affect waterfowl come in a variety of forms.

  • Gizzard worm (Amidostomum)—more likely to be lethal in geese.
  • Gapeworm (Syngamus) in the windpipe— these make birds cough and, in extreme cases, will asphyxiate them.
  • Round worm—live in the gut (Ascarides). Occasionally seen in droppings.
  • Caecal worm (Heterakis) which inhabit the caecae (two blind-ending extensions from the gut).
  • Also tape worm and fluke.

Most of these worms use earthworms and insects as a host, and wild birds are carriers. So, however clean the environment, there is always a low parasite presence. The higher the density of stocking in an establishment, and the greater the length of time over which the land has been used, the greater the importance of regular worming.

Treatment: Vermifuges

Flubenvet

The preferred wormer for birds is Flubenvet. It can be obtained as a Premixture powder to add to food) or included in medicated layer pellets.

The Premixture Powder: This vermifuge can be obtained from your vet or bought over the counter from a suitably qualified premises (SQP). This premixture is only supplied to domestic keepers of poultry i.e. a person who keeps poultry on domestic premises, for feeding on those premises, non-food producing birds, or birds kept purely for private domestic consumption. If meat or eggs are sold by the poultry keeper, even farm gate sales, then the exemption does not apply. Only medicated layer pellets are approved when meat or eggs are sold.

The powder dosage for ducks should be checked with a vet because ducks are not mentioned on the label. The white powder comes in a 60g box (1%) which medicates 20kg of food. Assuming 150g of food per duck per day, this will treat up to 20 ducks. The product usually has a very long use-by date. It is licensed for birds, and kills all the internal parasites (listed above) at the correct dosage.

Larger quantities of the powder are only available through a vet for commercial premises.

Mixing

  • Always mix a small quantity of food to get an even distribution of the Flubenvet powder. Just one 6g scoop (supplied with the 60g box) treats 2 kg of food.
  • The white powder adheres well to the pellets—better than to wheat—so just use pellets over the worming period.
  • If wheat and pellets are used, dress the feed mixture first with a small amount of cooking oil. Then add the white powder. The oil dressing makes the powder stick better.
  • Don’t mix the wormer into the food with your hand because the powder sticks to your skin. Use a table spoon.

The disadvantage of Flubenvet is that you have to feed it for a week (seven consecutive days), in the food, for it to be effective. So birds who are really ill, and not eating, cannot be dosed in this way.

In an emergency, mix a small amount of the powder with water, and use the dose as a drench daily until the bird is eating and can complete the dose on the food. However, a single dose wormer such as Panacur, obtainable from the vet, would be the most effective.

Further details in the Flubenvet data sheets at www.noahcompendium.co.uk/?id=-451482 External link image

Pellets Medicated with Flubenvet

Medicated pellets are now produced by companies such as Marriages and sold via outlets such as Mole Valley, and Farm and Pet.

Layers pellets with Flubenvet are easy to administer, just replace your normal pellets with the Flubenvet poultry wormer for 7 consecutive days. The birds will eat the correct dosage during this time. Marriage Layers Pellets with Flubenvet are effective against gapeworm, large roundworm, caecal worm, hairworm and gizzard worm. Withdraw feed 7 days before slaughter. Zero withdrawal period for eggs.

You will need to buy the same amount that your poultry would consume in a week on normal layers pellets, because Marriages Layers Pellets with Flubenvet acts as a replacement. As a quick example, estimate 1kg per bird or one 10kg bag for 10 birds over a week.

This product has a short shelf life due to the process in which the medication is added so it is recommended that you only purchase when you are ready to use it. Further details from www.marriages.co.uk/products-poultry.php External link image and from www.farmandpetplace.co.uk/shop/products/poultry/poultry-feed/poultry-feed-by-brand/marriages-poultry-feed/marriages-layers-pellets-with-Flubenvet-chicken-wormer-20kg.html External link image

Ivermectin

Ivermectin (pour-on) for controlling internal and external parasites is available in 5 ml dropper bottles for ornamental birds and can be prescribed by your vet. It is not licensed for food chain birds and must not be used if you sell table eggs. Harka-Mectin Spot On Treatment Ivermectin for Worms Lice & Mites requires two drops for a 500g pigeon [lvermectin 0.35% w/v] See https://www.harkersonline.co.uk/product/treatments/harkamectin-parasites/ External link image.

A pro rata dose for a 2 kg duck would be 8 drops, which is around 0.5 ml.

Do check the concentration (w/v) of the preparation. Ivermectin is sold at differing strengths e.g. 1% for different sizes and types of animals/birds.

Ivermectin pour-on is applied to the skin. Skin is difficult to find on ducks, due the abundant down. The back of the duck's neck can be used, but also look under the wing where it joins the body; sometimes the fluff is thinner there in the ‘armpit’.

Two applications spaced at 8-10 days are usually recommended but it can be effective at just one application.

The number of worm species that ivermectin kills is more limited than flubenvet (tapeworm & fluke are excluded: V Roberts: Diseases of Free Range Poultry) but it is doubly useful in that it also systemically kills external parasites, such as northern mite.

Other Products

  • Levamisole no longer seems to be effective as an anthelmintic
  • Panacur can be used for poultry; consult a vet
  • Piperazine kills only round worms and does not kill worm eggs

Herbal treatments for worms are very limited in their effect. See https://www.flytesofancy.co.uk/blogs/information-centre/poultry-worms-treat-prevent

ALWAYS OBSERVE WITHDRAWAL TIMES FOR THESE PRODUCTS IF THE BIRDS OR THEIR EGGS ARE TO BE EATEN IVERMECTIN IS NOT LICENSED FOR FOOD CHAIN BIRDS AND MUST NOT BE USED IF YOU SELL TABLE EGGS.

USE ALL THESE PRODUCTS WITH CARE AND DO NOT GET THEM ON YOURSELF, ESPECIALLY IVERMECTIN WHEN YOU SHOULD WEAR PROTECTIVE GLOVES.

For further information on the use of veterinary medicines please contact your Vet or check the data sheets for Flubenvet (flubendazole) and Ivermectin at the website https://www.noah.co.uk/ External link image. NOAH is the trade association representing the UK animal health industry.

Useful links:

Page last updated: 16th October 2023