TAPEWORM PROBLEM: Need Advice on Treatment

I hope that tapeworms fall under the "Pest" category in the "Predators and Pest" section.

I have a tapeworm problem with my chickens. Yesterday I noticed that there were little pale objects in my chickens' droppings, and I immediately recognized them as being tapeworms (from a picture that a fellow BYCer uploaded for me). I am a little alarmed as to how fast the tapeworms seem to have appeared, for I have not noticed any up to this point in the droppings.

A couple months ago I treated my chickens with Wazine 17 to eliminate a roundworm infection, and today I was just about to give them some more of it to treat the tapeworms when I read the label. As I understand it, Wazine treats only roundworm infections, not tapeworm.

So basically I need to know how to treat my chickens. Is there a "natural" remedy I can give them, or some proven home remedy? Or do I have to buy some sort of medication? Also, I'm not exactly well-to-do, so I would really appreciate tips on LOW-COST treatment/medications.

As a side note, is it safe to eat the eggs of chickens that have tapeworms? That may sound like a stupid question, but thought it was worth asking...

God bless,
~Gresh~

Valbazen will treat tapeworms.it is a little pricey but will do the job.

Buying diamotaceous earth is a waste of money for worming chickens.

I second the valbazen. Put the required amount on a little piece of bread and toss to each chicken.

Thank y'all for your suggestion. You're definitely right about it being pricey...checked the internet a little bit ago and saw it was around $43...

Is it safe to eat my chickens eggs right now, even though they have tapeworms?

Gresh said:

Thank y'all for your suggestion. You're definitely right about it being pricey...checked the internet a little bit ago and saw it was around $43...

Is it safe to eat my chickens eggs right now, even though they have tapeworms?

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Zimectrin Gold equine paste wormer is cheaper and will take care of tapeworms. Give your birds a regular "pea" size amount orally. Repeat dosing them again 10 days later. Normally there's a 24 day withdrawal period start to finish using either valbazen or z-gold.
It's up to you if you want to eat eggs from worm infected hens.

Dawg:

Thanks for your suggestion. I'll see if my local TSC carries that medication.

So is the withdrawal period 24 days after the last dosage, or the first? I assume during those 24 days it wouldn't be safe to eat their eggs?

Thanks again.

Here's what it looks like:

@Dawg: Thanks for the med suggestion. I used a similar Ivermectin for horses and am monitoring the flock to see if the results are favorable.


Does anybody know for sure if it's safe or unsafe to eat eggs from hens that have worms? I would really like to know soon. Our hens lay quite well and it is disappointing to throw out eggs just because I don't know for sure if they're dangerous to eat or not.

Gresh said:

@Dawg: Thanks for the med suggestion. I used a similar Ivermectin for horses and am monitoring the flock to see if the results are favorable.


Does anybody know for sure if it's safe or unsafe to eat eggs from hens that have worms? I would really like to know soon. Our hens lay quite well and it is disappointing to throw out eggs just because I don't know for sure if they're dangerous to eat or not.

Click to expand...

FYI: Ivermectin ONLY products wont kill tapeworms. There has to be praziquantel in the product to kill tapes. If you used Equimax, that'll work. Normally there's a 14 day withdrawal after the last dosing. Eggs will contain wormer residue however slight. There's the possibility that someone may have a reaction to the residue in the eggs. I toss them for 14 days. It's up to you if you want to eat the eggs or not.

Well something I thought of recently was growing herbs that are antiparasitic...like wormwood, for one, and feeding them the herb dried. Preventative...proactive. Maybe a blackwalnut tea from time to time?