Deworming Chickens as preventative care

[Sassy13]

Hello, new to keeping chickens. I have a backyard flock of 5. My chicks are between 8-10 weeks old. They have been outside their coop and run in the yard, around our garden beds when we are out in the evening. All my chicks are excellent hunters. They follow us around and get busy in the yard as soon as they are let out. I just noticed today, Tinnie, my brahma, ripped and ate a centipede. Also they have had grasshoppers, crickets and ants. We live in NM, so its pretty dry out here, and their coop and run is always dry.

I am wondering if I need to think about a deworming schedule as a preventative measure, now that they are being introduced to the garden soil and all the critters?

I am sure there are lots of threads here on deworming, however, can someone advice or point me in the right direction? or are they still too young?

Thanks

 

[CurlyQuail]

I’m not a big fan of giving my birds chemicals if they don’t need it (plus many dewormers have an egg with that goes with it) so I’ve always stuck to natural dewormers (such as garlic or pumpkin seed) added to their diet and I only go in with a chemical dewormer if I know for sure they have worms.

I attached two interesting reads: one about natural dewormers and one about how to decide when to deworm and what you should be using.

https://www.purelypoultry.com/blog/organic-de-worming-and-prevention/

https://blog.cacklehatchery.com/do-your-chickens-need-deworming/

 

[aart]

I am wondering if I need to think about a deworming schedule as a preventative measure, now that they are being introduced to the garden soil and all the critters?

Not likely.
If you have concerns, best to get a fecal float done so you know what you are treating for.

 

[Sassy13]

I’m not a big fan of giving my birds chemicals if they don’t need it (plus many dewormers have an egg with that goes with it) so I’ve always stuck to natural dewormers (such as garlic or pumpkin seed) added to their diet and I only go in with a chemical dewormer if I know for sure they have worms.

I attached two interesting reads: one about natural dewormers and one about how to decide when to deworm and what you should be using.

https://www.purelypoultry.com/blog/organic-de-worming-and-prevention/

https://blog.cacklehatchery.com/do-your-chickens-need-deworming/

Okay thank you! This is helpful.

 

[Sassy13]

May be I am overthinking this. But I am not sure what symptoms to look for either, if they get sick. So I was just wondering.

 

[aart]

May be I am overthinking this.

Nods vigorously.

 

[ShaylaFox]

May be I am overthinking this. But I am not sure what symptoms to look for either, if they get sick. So I was just wondering.

One of the links provided said this “If your chickens are eating a lot but remain very skinny or if they start to lose vitality and vigor, you may have a worm issue.”

 

[LaFleche]

May be I am overthinking this. But I am not sure what symptoms to look for either, if they get sick. So I was just wondering.

Symptoms to look out for are:

• diarrhea
• failure to thrive
• limping
• neurological issues
• lots of gaping
• pale faces
• listlessness

the list goes on...

 

[ShaylaFox]

A fecal examination, done by a vet, would also tell you what worms, if any. This is also something I do for my horses.

 

[aart]

A fecal examination, done by a vet, would also tell you what worms, if any.

Really the only thing to go by.