DE for worming?

[Organics North]

Quote:
Ivan3,
Study please..

I am inquisitive... I have trouble seeing how an inert rock can have anti-nutrient qualities... Unless of course someone is feeding 10% DE in a feed mix to there animals.....

I see feed rates of DE quite low in the single percent to fraction of percent levels.. I would be real interested in learning about anti nutrient qualities at typical feed levels...

ON

 

[Organics North]

Quote:
I was looking at their website. I did not see anything specific for avian applications.

Where do I find info on it for poultry?

ON

 

[TN Henny Penny]

Thanks all for your input. I have sooo... much to learn! Since we're going to have DE anyway for the deep litter, it appears that it won't hurt the birds to sprinkle a bit in their feed occasionally. I'll have to look on the other threads to see about the worming issue. I'm still lost as to whether we should or should not seek out a preventive that won't affect our egg production or consumption safety. Wish I was younger so that I could learn faster!

 

[Mervin]

Quote:
I was looking at their website. I did not see anything specific for avian applications.

Where do I find info on it for poultry?

ON

Yes, I'm interested as well. And, where do you get it from? I don't think I've seen it at the feed store, not that I look at the meds all that much.

I'm not organic, but I tend to steer clear of meds/chemicals when at all possible. I do the same for myself. I would like to have an ace in the hole in case things ever get out of control.

 

[knaup109]

I recently saw one small worm in one of the hen poop. She is healthy eating well. I come across this article and decide not to do anything.


FYI, this article is from university of Florida.

Intestinal Parasites in Backyard Chicken Flocks1

Gary D. Butcher, D.V.M., Ph.D. and Richard D. Miles, Ph.D.2

Intestinal parasites (worms) are very common in chickens in the backyard type poultry flocks. The presence of a few parasites do not usually cause a problem. However, large numbers can have a devastating effect on growth, egg production, and over-all health. The concentration of parasite eggs in the chickens environment is one factor which plays a major role in determining the severity of the infection. The chickens pick up the parasite eggs directly by ingesting contaminated feed, water, or litter or by eating snails, earthworms, or other insects (intermediate hosts) which can carry the eggs.

Clinical signs of parasitism are unthriftyness, poor growth and feed conversion, decreased egg production, and even death in severe infections. Furthermore, parasites can make the flock less resistant to diseases and exacerbate existing disease conditions.

Of all the intestinal worms, large roundworms (Ascaridia galli) probably inflict the most damage. Young birds are affected more severely. A mild infection is often not noticed. Large numbers of worms, however, interfere with feed absorption causing poor growth and production. In severe infections there can be actual intestinal blockage by the worms, causing death. Affected birds are unthrifty and more susceptible to other diseases. Roundworms are passed from bird to bird by directly ingesting the parasite egg in fecal contaminated feed, water, or litter, or by eating grasshoppers or earthworms carrying the parasite.

Another worm commonly found in chickens is the cecal worm (Heterakis gallinarum). While it rarely causes problems in chickens, its chief economic importance lies in its role as a carrier of the organism Histomonas melegridis, which causes a deadly disease in turkeys known as blackhead. Earthworms ingest the cecal worm egg containing the histomonad organism from the chicken litter. When the earthworms are ingested by the turkeys, they become infected. The cecal worm egg containing the histomonad organism may also be directly ingested by turkeys. Thus, one should never house chickens and turkeys together or allow turkeys on range which chickens have previously occupied.

Other intestinal parasites that cause problems are the small roundworms (Capillaria sp.). These parasites infect the intestines causing hemorrhage and thickening of the intestinal walls, leading to poor feed absorption and poor growth. Small roundworms are passed directly from bird to bird by ingestion of the parasite eggs or by ingestion of earthworms, insects, and other vectors carrying the parasite. Tapeworms are also very common, but unlike other worms must be passed through an intermediate host, such as a snail, slug, earthworm, beetle or fly.

Prevention and control of worm infestations in backyard poultry flocks involves proper management of diet, sanitation, and treatment. Chickens need a proper diet, especially an adequate supply of vitamins A and the B complex. A deficiency in these has been shown to increase the susceptibility to parasitism.

1.

Thorough removal of litter between flocks of chickens.
2.

Keep litter as dry as possible.
3.

Avoid overcrowding.
4.

Keep wild birds, pigeons and other birds away from chickens. They may be infected and shedding the worm eggs.
5.

Provide adequate drainage of ranges and move shelters frequently to decrease accumulation of droppings.
6.

Keep birds off freshly plowed ground where ingestion of earthworms and other insects is more likely.
7.

Use insecticides to control insect populations.

The treatment of chickens to control intestinal parasites can benefit the grower by decreasing parasite levels in heavily infected birds. This will result in a decrease in the build-up of parasite eggs in the environment. Specific worm infections require specific medications. A determination of which worms are affecting your chickens should be made by your veterinarian prior to treatment. Proper use of medication in combination with sound management and sanitation practices should limit production losses from intestinal worms.
Footnotes

1.

This document is VM76, one of a series of the Veterinary Medicine-Large Animal Clinical Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date January, 1992. Reviewed March, 2009. Visit the EDIS Web site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2.

Gary D. Butcher, D.V.M., Ph.D., Poultry Veterinarian, and Richard D. Miles, Ph.D. Poultry Nutritionist, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville FL 32611.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Millie Ferrer-Chancy, Interim Dean.

 

[dottysfarm]

Quote:
I was looking at their website. I did not see anything specific for avian applications.

Where do I find info on it for poultry?

ON

Yes, I'm interested as well. And, where do you get it from? I don't think I've seen it at the feed store, not that I look at the meds all that much.

I'm not organic, but I tend to steer clear of meds/chemicals when at all possible. I do the same for myself. I would like to have an ace in the hole in case things ever get out of control.

Also interested in finding out how you would administer the eprinex to poultry. I found it on jefferslivestock.com and qcsupply.com. Also, ON, do you get your DE at Fleet Farm? That is my guess... the cheapest I have found it for online is a food grade DE for $27.50 on earthworks.com. Rancher hicks doesn't have a Fleet Farm in NY.

I did a quick search on DE and this is what I found: "Pest controlDiatomite is also used as an insecticide, due to its physico-sorptive properties. The fine powder absorbs lipids from the waxy outer layer of insects' exoskeletons, causing them to dehydrate.[7] Arthropods die as a result of the water pressure deficiency, based on Fick's law of diffusion. This also works against gastropods and is commonly employed in gardening to defeat slugs. However, since slugs inhabit humid environments, efficacy is very low. It is sometimes mixed with an attractant or other additives to increase its effectiveness. Medical-grade diatomite is sometimes used to de-worm both animals and humans, with questionable efficacy[8][9]. It is most commonly used in lieu of boric acid, and can be used to help control and eventually eliminate cockroach and flea infestations. This material has wide application for insect control in grain storage.[10] It has also been used to control bedbug infestations, but this method may take weeks to work.[11] (8.^ Lartigue, E. del C.; Rossanigo, C. E., 2004. Insecticide and anthelmintic assessment of diatomaceous earth in cattle. Veterinaria Argentina 21(209): 660-674
9.^ Fernandez MI, Woodward BW, Stromberg BE, 1998. Effect of diatomaceous earth as an anthelmintic treatment on internal parasites and feedlot performance of beef steers. Animal Science 66: 635-641
10.^ http://www.survival-center.com/foodfaq/ff17-oxy.htm Survival Information Center
11.^ http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/the-business-of-bedbugs/19627257/)"

 

[dottysfarm]

Hey all, I asked Rancher how to use the eprinex for poultry. This was the response. Hope this helps everyone else also

eprinex works just like the frontline and those types of meds for cats and dogs. I use a 1/2 ml for ea. large bird. 1/4 for small. I wouldn't use it for chicks. You just put between the shoulder blades. It's more expensive than some and cheaper to use than others.

Twice a year should do it, I think. I wouldn't use it more than that, unless you see worms.​

 

[ivan3]

Organics North wrote:

Ivan3,
Study please..
I am inquisitive... I have trouble seeing how an inert rock can have anti-nutrient qualities... Unless of course someone is feeding 10% DE in a feed mix to there animals.....

Hi, ON. Please check my posts that I linked to in previous post (study link is included), along with more info. on feeding in ruminants, etc., etc.

Again, if you want to dig into the details: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=294680&p=2 (post #20) https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=295586&p=2 (posts #'s 11/20/22).​

 

[Organics North]

Quote:
Correct..

Then again I am not sure if I get it at Farm & Fleet or Fleet & Farm....
I always get so confused....

ON