Do u have to deworm chickens?

[jnoble243]

I was just wondering if periodic deworming is necessary? If so then what is the best thing to use? I'm not crazy about adding something to water, I work at a vet and they gave me some ideas but didn't know what everyone else did? Also how often does it need to be done....

 

[cafarmgirl]

If you want to keep parasite loads under control then yes, it's necessary. If you don't deworm your birds can get a heavy infestation of parasites and their health suffers as a result. You are better off dosing each bird orally rather then giving it in the water. That way you know each one got the dose it needs. Repeat in 10 days to clear up anything that hatched since dewormers don't kill parasite eggs. Use something like Valbazen or liquid Safeguard for goats, easy to administer. Wazine only kills round worms and there are a lot more parasites chickens get then that. The climate where you live makes a difference on how often you worm. If it's a dry climate you will need to deworm less then someone in a warm/wet climate. Where I live it's pretty hot and dry most of the year so I deworm twice a year.

 

[jnoble243]

Ok sounds good and thanks. I'm in North Carolina so it is humid in the summer. The only dewormers I an get from work are liquid. Someone told me to use horse dewormers but that's a little scary!!! Not to mention dosing wouldn't be very accurate.

 

[kellychiciii]

Do you have to discard eggs if they are laying after u worm them?

 

[jnoble243]

I'm not sure but I think it depends on what type of dewormers u r using. It usually gives a time for animals used for meat but I would follow that for eggs too..... Not sure.

 

[Mehjr10]

Hi, jnoble243,

I use valbezan on mine but the thread below talks about some others, safeguard and zimectrin gold, i don't have any personal experiences with those two. But there are some good reply from other members that have in the thread..
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/773318/do-my-chickens-have-worms/10

The Valbezan is basically .1ml per pound, squirt it in the mouth, easiest to do at night for me off the roost.. Follow up in 7 days..


Egg Tossing you can read this link and go from there. Valbezan and zimectrin ingredients are both used to treat human parasite infections read here, http://www.livestrong.com/article/216236-medications-to-treat-human-worms/

 

[dawg53]

Valbazen is the best wormer on the market. It slowly kills worms over several days, no worries about toxic dead worm blockage that could kill a chicken if there's an infestation of worms. Valbazen kills all known types of worms that chickens can get. Valbazen has a withdrawal period of 14 days after last dosing like most wormers.

 

[jnoble243]

Thanks a bunch!!

 

[casportpony]

I was just wondering if periodic deworming is necessary? If so then what is the best thing to use? I'm not crazy about adding something to water, I work at a vet and they gave me some ideas but didn't know what everyone else did? Also how often does it need to be done....

Since you work at a vet office, ask them to look up the dosing info on Fenbendazole (Safegaurd), albendazole (Valbazen), ivermectin and Praziquantil .

I dose all of mine orally by weight (mg/kg) withh all medications.

I use Safeguard on mine, 50mg/kg, it gets all but tapes and is safe to use on all birds (except during molt, causes odd feather growth), mammals and reptiles. Valbazen is probably the better wormer for chickens since it gets all worms, but it can't be used on all birds and mammals as it causes death in some and aplastic anemia in others. Your vet should have this info, it's in the Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook.

That said, if all you want to worm are chickens, get the Valbazen, but do talk to your vet about it. Heck, sure wish I worked for a vet, lol.

 

[casportpony]

Forgot to mention Wazine (piperazine), it only gets roundworms, so it's a waste of money IMHO.