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You do not have to have all your birds seen by a veterinarian--all you have to do is take a "collective" sample by picking up the freshest samples from several birds and have that tested as one sample (only one lab fee) and then worm all of them because if one has worms they all do or soon will. The idea for the collective sample is just in case one bird is not shedding the worm eggs in their stool another most likely is.
Ivormectin is not labeled for chickens so they cannot tell you how long to not eat the eggs of any bird that has been given the drug.
I think some folks worm depending on if they let their birds eat bugs from the grass or fields. Bugs carry certain parasites so they will most likely be infected. They also may alternate the type of wormer. The problem is some wormers need to be repeated in 7-10 days after the first dose to kill the parasites that recently became adults and were missed by the first dose. I know it sounds complicated but talk to the vet if you can and ask for their advice.
As far a DE is concerned it is not a perfect product--it helps external parasites fairly well but some do survive. Internally it is not very effective and since some worms cause very serious problems don't depend on it and run the stool sample and treat if necessary with a wormer. If the sample comes back clean then you do not have to worm them.
You do not have to have all your birds seen by a veterinarian--all you have to do is take a "collective" sample by picking up the freshest samples from several birds and have that tested as one sample (only one lab fee) and then worm all of them because if one has worms they all do or soon will. The idea for the collective sample is just in case one bird is not shedding the worm eggs in their stool another most likely is.
Ivormectin is not labeled for chickens so they cannot tell you how long to not eat the eggs of any bird that has been given the drug.
I think some folks worm depending on if they let their birds eat bugs from the grass or fields. Bugs carry certain parasites so they will most likely be infected. They also may alternate the type of wormer. The problem is some wormers need to be repeated in 7-10 days after the first dose to kill the parasites that recently became adults and were missed by the first dose. I know it sounds complicated but talk to the vet if you can and ask for their advice.
As far a DE is concerned it is not a perfect product--it helps external parasites fairly well but some do survive. Internally it is not very effective and since some worms cause very serious problems don't depend on it and run the stool sample and treat if necessary with a wormer. If the sample comes back clean then you do not have to worm them.
