Natural lice, mite, and worm control?

Date sort Score sort
Longhaven Hen

Longhaven Hen

Chirping
11 Years
Nov 3, 2009
65
1
82
Central Ohio
I have a small flock of six (2 laying hens, 3 pullets, and 1 young rooster), and I would like to raise them all as naturally as possible. I was wondering what would be recommended for natural lice, mite, and worm control? At this point, they don't appear to have any pest problems, and I would like to do all that I can (naturally) to prevent pest problems in the future.

I have been feeding my flock pumpkin seeds to control worms, have purchased yogurt for intestinal health (but have not yet fed it), have ordered diatomaceous earth for lice/mite treatment and prevention, and read something about molasses in the drinking water, but what is the proper method and frequency for administering these natural preventions/treatments?
 
I have read that one should wear a mask when working with diatomaceous earth to avoid inhaling it, but what about the chickens? Will inhaling DE hurt them?
 
THat's controversial, whether DE is harmful to respiratory tracts of chickens or not and I've read a few articles (including one in Backyard Poultry magazine this year) to that effect. I don't know, but I do want to make sure you understand that DE is only a preventative; it will not kill a worm LOAD, but it may prevent one if your chickens are not carrying a load to begin with. You should really get a faecal float done so you know where you stand now, and then go forward with your treatment.

There's a product called VermX that is a natural wormer...however, it's ben recently found that it works the same as DE, it will not kill an overload of worms, but it does a better job at keeping them under control if a light load is present than DE does. I have some information that I can send you via e-mail on VermX if you are interested; if so, PM me.
 
Thank you, Wynette. My chickens do not appear to have worms (or lice or mites) at this point, that's why I want to begin a preventive program. I hope to avoid the horror of parasitic infestation if at all possible!
 
For my silkies I do the following--For worms--- I use my garlic steamer by tagco. This machine looks like an over-grown garlic bulb. I got 2 on amazon. A few notes on the machine. Dont use oil --use water. Prevents you from getting burned and oil isnt necessary!!!!
No need to cut the tops off the garlic before placing into machine. Just rub fingers over the bulbs to remove as much of the loose papery covering as possible. Remove the ceramic ring and wet in water return to machine, put in the black removable dish fill with just enough water to cover the bottom- add as many bulbs as you can stuff in -close the lid and press the light. It will take about 24 mins to cook. A regular oven is too costly to operate for a few garlic bulbs.
Let cool then remove each bulb, cut in half and squeeze garlic into a dish. Cream with a fork and add to 2-3 cups of cooked brown rice and let them eat till full. Do this for 3 days in a row as needed. Watch for garlick breath!

Food Grade DE is great for mites and lice if you want to use it..dont breathe it and wear long sleeve shirt, long pants and a mask to protect yourself. I personally just add some to their nest boxes & a handful to their dusting holes. The few times they have had lice I just bathed all in a large garage sink of warm water to a cup of ivory liquid soap-gently swished to mix so as to not make bubbles....never rinsed off... after pulled from bath cheched their vents for eggs ..removed the ones left and smeared area with veggie oil and proceeded to gently dry them with a hair dryer. I set up a pen indoors and keep them inside overnite while the hen house is cleared out and cleaned and sprayed with a safer pyrethin product and left to fully ventillate.
 
If you burn wood, you can put the ashes in the chickens' pen so they can dust in it. That 'should' help to keep mites/lice off them. If you have a worm infestation already, about the only way to get rid of it is by medication, then once they're gone you can use red pepper, DE, and things of that nature.
 
Well, I wonder about the garlic for worms. I used a garlic based product for my horses one time, until there was some controversy as to whether or not garlic is toxic long=term for horses. We put it in their food and the body smell was supposed to discourage flies. That part did seem to help. I jumped to the conclusion that if it would repel flies, surely it would do the same for internal worms. NOT! I had a fecal done on my horses and they were loaded. I felt really guilty, and they are back on the usual horse wormers.

A horse is not a chicken, but if you choose to try that method, please follow up with a timely fecal to make sure it is working.

Connie
 
Also try a copy of Joel Salatin's book, Pastured Poultry, and Andy Lee's book, Day Range Poultry. They have many suggestions on avoiding or at least cutting down the usual array of poisonous ag products, to take care of your birds and their food.

Connie
 
Thank you, all, for your wonderful suggestions! Much appreciated!
smile.png
 

Similar threads

A
    • Like
need help identifying mites
Replies
3
Views
576
AutumnFall
A
KristinaM
How to get rid of lice/mites quickly?
Replies
8
Views
1K
ChickyCh00k
ChickyCh00k
Milady
    • Like
Chicken lice in Canada
Replies
6
Views
574
Milady
Milady
chickenlover4lifee
Lice and mites?
Replies
6
Views
1K
BDutch
BDutch
uisceros
Lice treatment question
Replies
7
Views
2K
McChooky
McChooky

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom