Worming chickens?

Monstro · Feb 12, 2015

Got our first egg this week, so went to TSC yesterday to get oyster shell. Also picked up DE to try out as a preventative. Noticed they had a chicken wormer in the same area, never gave much thought to chickens needing wormed before.

Should worming be done as preventative maintenance and if so, when?

Thanks

Nupe · Feb 12, 2015

Some people are religious about worming their birds once a year. Usually in fall during molt, since you won't want to eat the eggs for at least 2 weeks. Others don't bother until they see a problem. I'm in that mindset. Make it a point to observe their poop. You can usually see the wigglies if they are there. Also, if you're getting poo covered eggs (that aren't poopy for obvious reasons) you may want to worm them.

Spangled · Feb 12, 2015

I don't worm. As Nupe mentioned,

Nupe said:
Others don't bother until they see a problem. I'm in that mindset. Make it a point to observe their poop. You can usually see the wigglies if they are there.

I hope that's how things work, because that's what I do. And I don't inspect every day.

Living northerly instead of southerly, I tend to think there's less of a worm load that my chickens are going to have to deal with because it's so blasted cold 1/2 the year and their pasture is frozen. If I and my chickies were living southerly, I think I might be a little more persnickety when it came to worming.

Now, DE ... yep, that's in their feed. 1%. I don't use it as a worming part of the feed. I just put it in there because I figure it can't hurt at 1%.

Nupe · Feb 12, 2015

I put DE in their coop and their food to keep flies from breeding in their poo. Last summer I had more flies in my house than my chicken coop.

dawg53 · Feb 12, 2015

Nupe said:
Some people are religious about worming their birds once a year. Usually in fall during molt, since you won't want to eat the eggs for at least 2 weeks. Others don't bother until they see a problem. I'm in that mindset. Make it a point to observe their poop. You can usually see the wigglies if they are there. Also, if you're getting poo covered eggs (that aren't poopy for obvious reasons) you may want to worm them.

Why worm during molt? Molt causes stress in birds, worming them during molt causes more stress which could weaken their immune system opening the door for diseases to infect them. People who wait to see a problem are part of the problem. When worms are seen in feces, that means there's an infestation and internal damage has already occured. Poop covered eggs arnt a sign of worms, that's misinformation. That simply means that the fluff/feathers on their butt needs trimming back for a clear 'shot' to the ground to prevent poopy butt fly strike.

Nupe · Feb 12, 2015

dawg53 said:
Why worm during molt?

I don't know, I don't do it.

dawg53 said:
People who wait to see a problem are part of the problem.

Like I said, religious. There is no problem, just prerogative. I'll give my birds poison when I'm sure it's a benefit.

dawg53 · Feb 12, 2015

Nupe said:
Quote:
Most people religiously worm their dogs monthly with poison. Chickens are more likely to get worms since they continously eat grass and pick dirt, ingesting worm eggs. PM me when your birds get worms, I'll be glad to help you out.

sunflour · Feb 12, 2015

IMO I don't think you should worm chickens unless they have worms.

dawg53 · Feb 12, 2015

sunflour said:
IMO I don't think you should worm chickens unless they have worms.

I lived in Georgia most my life until two years ago. I can assure you the soil in Georgia is prime time worm soup.

Spangled · Feb 12, 2015

dawg53 said:
Quote:
Mr. Dawg, you sound like an expert ... here and elsewhere on BYC. I ask the same question the original poster asked, "

Monstro said:

Should worming be done as preventative maintenance and if so, when?

Click to expand...

And also ask whether or not you think there is a difference between hens living in warmer climates (USDA Zones 7,8,&9) and hens living in climates where half the year it's freezing most days and every night? Or do you have any experience with hens in the cold climates that I am asking about? Or maybe your knowledge extends beyond your experience. Whichever. What do you think?

Just an aside ... referencing your platitude "People who wait to see a problem are part of the problem" ... on the other hand, it seems like people who see problems where there aren't any often cause a bunch of other problems. I think. You have a cute little saying there, one I've not heard before, but it's going to take me a while to see in which situations I can use it. It sure does sound catchy.

Worming chickens?

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