Deworming?

[LittleMissCountry]

Okay, new chicken owner here, so forgive me if this is a silly question. My chicks are 13 weeks old, almost 14 weeks. Am I supposed to give them a dewormer? They free range for part of each day, and are in either a portable run moved around the yard, or the run attached to their coop the rest of the time.
I know chickens are going to have some worms, just as wild birds do, but should I be giving them something now, or when they are older?

I noticed one, or more, of my chicks is having some runny poo, almost foamy, which can be a sign of worms (or other things). All of them are active, eating and drinking, and don't seem to be losing weight.

 

[Dawnclucks22]

Okay, new chicken owner here, so forgive me if this is a silly question. My chicks are 13 weeks old, almost 14 weeks. Am I supposed to give them a dewormer? They free range for part of each day, and are in either a portable run moved around the yard, or the run attached to their coop the rest of the time.
I know chickens are going to have some worms, just as wild birds do, but should I be giving them something now, or when they are older?

I noticed one, or more, of my chicks is having some runny poo, almost foamy, which can be a sign of worms (or other things). All of them are active, eating and drinking, and don't seem to be losing weight.

It’s your choice. If they don’t have worms and you worm them it won’t hurt them, but I wouldn’t give it to them as they’re so young.

 

[LittleMissCountry]

It’s your choice. If they don’t have worms and you worm them it won’t hurt them, but I wouldn’t give it to them as they’re so young.

That was what I was wondering, since they are not even laying eggs yet, and won't for a while yet. So do I just watch and make sure symptoms don't get worse, since the foamy poo is the only one I have seen?

 

[ronott1]

That was what I was wondering, since they are not even laying eggs yet, and won't for a while yet. So do I just watch and make sure symptoms don't get worse, since the foamy poo is the only one I have seen?

You can send a poo sample to a vet for a float test. It is a good idea to do this a couple of times a year.

 

[LittleMissCountry]

You can send a poo sample to a vet for a float test. It is a good idea to do this a couple of times a year.

Good to know. Thank you.