Do I REALLY need to worm?

[cochicks]

I have a small backyard flock. The appear healthy. They eat and drink well, and lay regularly. I've checked for mites and they look clean. I've never seen a worm in their poop.

Here's the question: I've seen on here that I should worm twice a year. I'm just curious as to why. My birds look healthy, and I'm getting good eggs. I'd rather not use chemicals if I don't have to, but I will if its best for the girls.

 

[Lesa]

You have opened up a real can of "worms" with that question! I have had birds for 3 years, and have never wormed. My hens are free range and eat organic layer pellets. If you birds look great and are laying eggs, I sure wouldn't do it. Do you have a vet that would do a fecal workup for you? That would take the guessing out of it.... JMO, you will surely hear others!

 

[speckledhen]

Free range birds are less likely to get a heavy worm load than penned birds, possibly because they eat plants that are natural wormers. I didn't worm my flock for the first time until they were over two years old and that was only because I saw a worm in one rooster's poop. Some folks worm every six months or once a year, whether or not they see evidence of worms, but that's up to you. If they start losing weight, appear lackluster, etc, then you may want to think about worming the flock, but there are things other than worms that cause those symptoms. And a fecal test will tell you which worms they have so you know which wormer to use. Wazine/piperazine kills only roundworms. Valbazen kills them all and won't stop up their systems with dead worms because it starves out the worms over several days.

 

[tammye]

I have never wormed either, my hens are 20 months old, they seem healthy and happy and are great layers. I check their poop everyday when I clean up. I give them chopped garlic in their water evry now and then and chopped pumkin seed sometimes, both said to help reduce worm load. May do a vet stool check in the spring costs 23 dollars

 

[key west chick]

I rarely worm. I really only worm if I get a new bird or see worms in the poop.

 

[PepsNick]

I don't like to take chances. I'm ordering Wazine and am about to start worming every 6 months.

 

[fresheggs4u]

I have read that ceyenne pepper with work as a wormer. I have used it for years about every 6 months, by added it to their feed. Mine are penned with a large run.

Don't know if it really works, but i have never seen any evidence of worms. My birds all seem to be very healthy.

 

[ginormous chicken]

Does this work? Does anyone know if it really work as a natural dewormer?

 

[Beekissed]

I say if it ain't broke, don't fix it! I've never wormed any chicken in my life and have never had illness in my flocks. Healthy birds abound and produce well. Why change anything in that picture?

 

[dawg53]

Quote:
Looks like thunderstorms building in that picture Beekissed! Heheheh!