Using DLM. Should I worm my quails?

[dorawinifred]

Once again, I'm a first time quail owner and my first generation flock is now a few months old. It's definitely been a learn-as-I-go process but one thing I'm confused about is worming. My quails live on the ground with a deep litter system and I know for certain they are eating all the critters that come into their enclosure. I came across a post, perhaps here or another site, that mentioned quails on a deep litter system should be wormed...but there seems to be a lot of variation in how quail owners go about doing it and I'm just kind of confused!

Can I get a quick survey of what more experienced quail owners have done? Is it safe to worm them just for preventative measures, or should I watch for symptoms first? Do I need to take any special cleaning considerations with their pen, since they're pooping directly into their substrate and living on it?

In case my anxiety doesn't translate well via text, I have had a lifelong phobia of internal parasites

 

[JaeG]

Parasites are creepy, so you're not alone there.

The only problem with dosing them regularly is the issue of the parasites building up an immunity to the medication, therefore making it ineffective over time (which is becoming more of a problem in farming as well as with humans in relation to 'superbugs' in hospitals etc). I only ever worm if I think there's a problem, and I've probably only wormed my birds once in the 6 years we've kept them because they had moved into an aviary with lots of cockatiels who like to feed on the floor of the aviary.

If you do want to worm regularly you will have to use one product one year then switch to a different one the next and vary what you use as much as possible because different worming medications work differently making it harder for any immunity to build up in the parasites.

 

[dorawinifred]

Good to know! Thanks @JaeG and I love your profile pic too!

 

[South Bay Beach Bum]

Once again, I'm a first time quail owner and my first generation flock is now a few months old. It's definitely been a learn-as-I-go process but one thing I'm confused about is worming. My quails live on the ground with a deep litter system and I know for certain they are eating all the critters that come into their enclosure. I came across a post, perhaps here or another site, that mentioned quails on a deep litter system should be wormed...but there seems to be a lot of variation in how quail owners go about doing it and I'm just kind of confused!

Can I get a quick survey of what more experienced quail owners have done? Is it safe to worm them just for preventative measures, or should I watch for symptoms first? Do I need to take any special cleaning considerations with their pen, since they're pooping directly into their substrate and living on it?

In case my anxiety doesn't translate well via text, I have had a lifelong phobia of internal parasites

I too have this question. My quail are 7 weeks old and I have them on deep liter (I want them to have a happy life before I eat them) What do I use to worm the little dinosaurs? (Intestinal parasites sound really icky and I do not want to get them)

 

[igorsMistress]

You would do best to get a fecal float test. Even vets that don’t treat them can usually send off for testing. You need to know what you’re treating to use the right medication for the problem if there is one.

 

[Quailobsessed]

I put dewormer in their water every three months.

 

[FloorCandy]

I haven’t wormed mine, tbh if I found worms in the pen I might cull them all then move and disinfect the pen and hatch more, fecal floats are like 45 bux here, plus meds, and quail only reliably lay for a year, I think financially it isn’t realistic from a livestock point of view. If they’re pets, just look for worms in the poop, if you see any, get a float done and treat it. Knowing from experience with other animals, once you have them you will keep getting them unless you clean and move the pen.

 

[South Bay Beach Bum]

I put dewormer in their water every three months.

what kind do you use? do you need a Rx from a vet?

 

[Quailobsessed]

what kind do you use? do you need a Rx from a vet?

I've used a few different ones. I'm pretty sure they're all Aussie ones though (probably not helpful to you, unless you're in Australia). I don't need a prescription for them.