Chicken parasites and humans

**RichmondHens** · 22-03-2010, 10:00 AM

I don't think avian parasites can develop in humans (someone correct me if I'm wrong) but I'm sure if the egg is cooked well then there wouldn't be a problem anyway.

I'm sure there are lots of people out there who don't bother worming their birds (unfortunately) but still eat the eggs with no problems. However, birds with heavy worm burdens become dull and listless, have diarrhoea and stop laying anyway.

**Capsid** · 22-03-2010, 11:53 AM

The eggs are formed in the ovaries not the gut, by the time they are laid and the egg contacts the gut contents (a very short time anyway) it is wrapped in a shell that will keep the parasites out.

**Hilary B** · 22-03-2010, 03:17 PM

Originally posted by Capsid View Post

The eggs are formed in the ovaries not the gut, by the time they are laid and the egg contacts the gut contents (a very short time anyway) it is wrapped in a shell that will keep the parasites out.

Yep! there might (in theory) be a slight risk if you pick up eggs, then eat something without washing hands in between, but I can't see any other way the problem could transfer, even if it was 'compatible', which seems improbable!

What would get me thinking was the external parasites. Some of those aren't too fussy.......
In particular, do red mite go for bunnies as well as chooks? (a friend on another forum is planning an insulated bunny-home, and I wondered whether there was a similar risk, never having encountered red-mite when I had chooks, or not enough to be aware of them anyway)

di · 22-03-2010, 03:27 PM

I don't know about rabbits,but I can vouch for the fact that red mite enjoy irritating humans as much as chooks....having had a little shower of them one lovely day last year

**lettucegrow!** · 22-03-2010, 04:44 PM

Thanks all, just wanted to make sure nothing odd happened at some stage of egg development.
I contacted Thornes about buying worming stuff and they advise to double up Verm-X for three days and use it as a purge. I thought it was just for preventative measures. Anyone else used it like this,as a cure?

**RichmondHens** · 22-03-2010, 06:29 PM

Flubenvet is the best wormer, especially if your hens actually have worms. I'm sure I've read on a forum somewhere of people trying Verm X as a cure, with no success.

Capsid - I have read somewhere that worms can migrate from the vent up the oviduct and get incorporated into the developing egg before the shell is laid down. I think it is very rare though.

**Capsid** · 22-03-2010, 07:00 PM

Originally posted by RichmondHens View Post

Capsid - I have read somewhere that worms can migrate from the vent up the oviduct and get incorporated into the developing egg before the shell is laid down. I think it is very rare though.

Tricky things parasites. I found this article.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...00180-0051.pdf

**its hilly** · 22-03-2010, 10:54 PM

Before using verm-ex as a purge Id be inclined to phone or e-mail the makers to see if they advise this. As its a herbal product it would be wise to check, some herbs are very potent, and while a bit too much wont harm, how much is a bit and how much is an overdose? A lot of people think of herbs as harmless, but like medicines they vary in dose rates and can have some nasty side effects if overdosed.
And purging a poorly animal can make it very ill. The makers are the best people to tell you if it would work or not, and I belive theyre very helpfull folk.

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Chicken parasites and humans

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