Do you need to worm if no signs are present?

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Do a fecal test, and KNOW. Don't deworm if there are no worms present.

But, if there are worms, you may want to start a twice-yearly deworming regimen, rotating active ingredients in your dewormer. We use cattle pour-on, and the one we do in spring, Eprinex, has no withholding time. The pour-ons handle external and internal parasites.

 

[Kidhenduckohmy]

I have been reading into dewormers and I want to make it part of their schedule. I wonder if you can deworm once a year in the winter when they are not laying so well?

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

I have been reading into dewormers and I want to make it part of their schedule. I wonder if you can deworm once a year in the winter when they are not laying so well?

We deworm in the fall when everyone is moulting. Then we don't have so many eggs to discard. Basically, pick the time of year when you get the fewest eggs and deworm then.

We use Ivermec in the fall, it has a two-week withholding. Then we use Eprinex at spring moult, it has no withholding--but it's really expensive. Both are pour-ons. You use .5cc per large fowl bird, put on the skin at the neck and a bit down by the tail on the skin.

 

[Feathers n Fur]

I think I'll go with the plan of having them tested and deworm only if necessary. As I said - none are showing signs of illness (except for Sweetie who just had crop surgery but she is on the mend) so I will only deworm them when worms are present. I've just been reading all about deworming and thought I was supposed to do it regularly.

 

[aldarita]

I have 9 hens that just turned one year old last month. I have not dewormed them and since they free range few hours a day, I was concerned about them having worms, however they show no signs of worms so I read all I could find in BYC about worming and came to one post from a lady that advised to have the poop test at the vet's lab instead of using any chemicals if not sure. IT SURE MADE A LOT OF SENSE TO ME!!!! so I called the vet's office and was told to collect several samples of fresh poop and have them make a fecal test. For 25 dollars I got the results the same day and they were negative. They told me to bring another sample in 4 months to test again so I plan to do so. I believe the less chemicals you introduce to your chickens the better they will be. If I ever get a positive test result, then I will have to see about what wormer to give them, in the mean time, I am happy to let them be.

 

[humphrey farms]

It's poisin?????? Wow maybe I should stop worming reguarly, they do have worms at the moment but once they're gone bye bye deworming!

All animals need worming..dogs, cats, horses, cows,sheep,pigs, ect...ONLY when needed or a maintaince thing. Death from worm infestation is a slow way to die. Just be careful with the product you use and read the directions carefully.

 

[Eggcessive]

An option many organic chicken farmers use is to feed seeds of pumpkin, and zucchini and other types of squash. They contain curcurbita which helps to keep the worm load down. It doesn't cure a bad case of worms, it is just a preventative. Some recommend garlic hot pepper in their feed. There are many different types of wormers, some only for roundworm, some for roundworm and others, but valbazen is the only one that works on all chicken worms. Yes, medications can be strong, but most people need to decide for themselves whether to medicate or try natural methods.

 

[cafarmgirl]

I have been reading into dewormers and I want to make it part of their schedule. I wonder if you can deworm once a year in the winter when they are not laying so well?

Yes you can. I deworm twice a year and one of them is in winter when egg production is down anyway.

 

[OldGuy43]

About once or twice a week I put apple cider vinegar in my flock's water. I feel the acid makes their gut less hospitable to parasites including worms.

 

[LittleBits]

I just read through this post because I had the same question! Obviously, there are many opinions, so what it comes down to is what YOU believe and what YOU want to do. Also depends on your chickens. I would say you definitely need to deworm if there are signs or worms present, regardless if it's a poison or not and regardless if you have to throw the eggs out. This is for the health of your flock.

Preventative measures such as the squash seeds are great - prevention is worth a pound of cure - It's certainly worth a try, but it may not work on every chicken, every flock, etc.... They love the seeds anyway - it sure isn't going to hurt them and will probably do some good as a preventive measure.

BYC members offer A LOT of GOOD advice. I've been thankful for it in my short time here, but I realize that not everybody is going to have the same advice on the same problems, nor is there only one solution to a problem. Things can be approached different ways.

Guess we have to make the decisions since the chickens can't decide on their own!

Whatever we all decide, it's important to feel comfortable and confident in your choices. That comes with experience and sometimes trial and error.

Thank you to all BYC members for your advice for my little flock. I may not take it all, but it is all welcome as I sift through all the options.