What worm is this? 🪱

[Traks]

Pony has been in a new field for the past 3/4 days and there is a bucket in there that has been there a while…she has access to a water trough and I think drinks from that instead… today I glanced down at a bucket in her field, found these creatures…



Happened to have the vet out today who looked and said they looked like roundworms but she wasn’t sure…called Westgate who we have a subscription with who said it’s highly unlikely for worms to have come out of the horse when drinking etc…but we are going to do a worm count and check anyway! Worm count in September was all clear and she was wormed in October with Equest (the blue one) as she did have a positive tapeworm. Vet said this didn’t look like tapeworms.

Westgate thought it could have been dropped by birds?! Very strange! Will obviously test again to be sure. Grim! Anyone else had a similar experience?

 

[dorsetladette]

They do look like earth worms to me. I get these in my water sometimes and I've always thought they were earth worms, but your worrying me now.

 

[meleeka]

Another vote for earth worms.

 

[FieldOrnaments]

They're dendrobaena that birds have dropped

 

[CastlelackSportHorses]

Earthworms!

 

[HaffiesRock]

I agree they are good old regular earth worms

 

[Dales]

Yes I'd say earthworm too. They have that band round them (sure it has a technical name but no idea what it is!). Round worms don't have that as far as I am aware.

 

[Traks]

Phew! Ok thank you!! will worm count again anyway they are sending me a kit! Thanks all!

 

[Beausmate]

Earthworms that have been dropped by a bird. Apparently some birds prefer clean worms, so they give 'em a good wash in the buckets.

 

[Traks]

Earthworms that have been dropped by a bird. Apparently some birds prefer clean worms, so they give 'em a good wash in the buckets.

Who knew?!

 

[poiuytrewq]

At our old field we used to get a really weird amount or worms every night if I put the water container in a certain place. Handfuls (not that I ever scooped them up!)

 

[rhino]

Yes I'd say earthworm too. They have that band round them (sure it has a technical name but no idea what it is!).

It’s called a saddle Proper scientific name is a clitellum

 

[Gloi]

Poor drowned earthworms.

 

[I'm Dun]

If a vet thought they were anything other than earth worms Id be concerned!

 

[Gloi]

If a vet thought they were anything other than earth worms Id be concerned!

Perhaps treating earthworms is a specialist job

 

[Traks]

If a vet thought they were anything other than earth worms Id be concerned!

In her defence she did say she rarely looks at them like that

 

[limestonelil]

Another ID for earthworms, probably dropped by birds. x

 

[spotty_pony2]

I guess common sense is why would horse worms be in water? Unless the horse had pooed in it..?

 

[Traks]

I guess common sense is why would horse worms be in water? Unless the horse had pooed in it..?

Well I know but anything is possible?!

 

[2 Dragons]

I have been getting lots of earthworms in my water in the last week or so. So i had a little google and discovered that there lots of air pockets underground but when it rains a lot they get flooded and the worms can’t breathe properly, so they go to the surface. .Once on the surface they keep going up- including up the side of water troughs, when they get to the top they fall in. I rescue them daily and pop them on the muck heap, which hopefully is a nice home or them

 

[Traks]

I have been getting lots of earthworms in my water in the last week or so. So i had a little google and discovered that there lots of air pockets underground but when it rains a lot they get flooded and the worms can’t breathe properly, so they go to the surface. .Once on the surface they keep going up- including up the side of water troughs, when they get to the top they fall in. I rescue them daily and pop them on the muck heap, which hopefully is a nice home or them

Oh goodness well this is good to know, thank you!

 

[Sanversera]

Earthworms I'd say. Get them frequently in my horses water through.

 

[Abacus]

I have been getting lots of earthworms in my water in the last week or so. So i had a little google and discovered that there lots of air pockets underground but when it rains a lot they get flooded and the worms can’t breathe properly, so they go to the surface. .Once on the surface they keep going up- including up the side of water troughs, when they get to the top they fall in. I rescue them daily and pop them on the muck heap, which hopefully is a nice home or them

I'm much meaner, I tend to throw them to the chickens, who like fighting over an earthworm like a piece of spaghetti.