Do you need to worm if no signs are present?

[OldGuy43]

Advice is like wine. It effects you only if you take it.

 

[Gemoriah]

What are you guys using to worm your chickens? I use food grade DE and it is fairly safe, just don't get it in your lungs. Here is a link to some information about it:

http://urbanchickens.org/diatomaceous-earth/

 

[browning6]

Wormer being named as a poison is blowing things way out of proportion. Yes wormer is a poison, and so is penicillin in a high enough dose. And we still give antibiotics all the time. Few people know that the euthanasia shot given to dogs and cats is no more than high concentrations of vitamin K. And without vitamin K we would die. So calling it a poison is a little extreme.

Remember, you don't have to see an unhealthy bird to have problems with parasites. most of the damage is internal and can be devastating. For those that don't want to throw out a few weeks of eggs, think of all the eggs you will lose if the hen dies or lays less due to the parasites taxing the body. And if it that big of a deal throw the eggs in the incubator. My wormed eggs hatched great.

 

[dpuleo]

...

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.

I agree! Chickens are very good at hiding illness. I have a chicken that almost died from worms. She is fine now but it was a long road to good health. I would take a sample to the vet like the other person said. Earthworms and other bugs are the host to the parasitic worms. I now use Verm-X once a month for three days to prevent worms. There is no egg withhold.

 

[Mackland]

I use Ivomec - 1ml to 3 litres of their water (4 times a year). If there are worms present I double up that dose by re-dosing 10 days later. I had a hen that was riddled with worms - never have I seen such a sad sight - won't let that happen again!
I worm even if I don't see signs of worms present. It has never affected my hens otherwise.

 

[lauriej57]

I've had chickens for many years now and I have never wormed them. I have one who is 6 or 7 years old, and never a problem. Almost all animals, and humans, have some type of worms. The natural defenses normally take care of them, and keep them from being a problem.

If I were to actually see worms, or saw signs that my chickens had problems, that may be worm related, then yes, I would worm them.

These days, everyone is just way to quick to worm, give antibiotics, etc, rather than let our natural defenses take over. Left on their own, or on our own, we build up natural antibodies to most things.

 

[AxisOfBeagles]

I've had chickens for many years now and I have never wormed them. I have one who is 6 or 7 years old, and never a problem. Almost all animals, and humans, have some type of worms. The natural defenses normally take care of them, and keep them from being a problem.

If I were to actually see worms, or saw signs that my chickens had problems, that may be worm related, then yes, I would worm them.

These days, everyone is just way to quick to worm, give antibiotics, etc, rather than let our natural defenses take over. Left on their own, or on our own, we build up natural antibodies to most things.

While I completely agree with this, if taken out of context it might be misleading. To develop and maintain healthy 'natural' resistance, chickens will need as natural and healthy an environment as possible. Chickens that spend the majority of their time in a run are more likely to become infected with any number of fungi or parasites, including worms. Those of us fortunate enough to have free ranging chickens are probably less concerned with worms (I've never wormed anything other than an occasional dog) than those who must keep their birds penned.

As with all things, the entire ecosystem has to be taken into consideration. If I had to keep birds in a run, with the majority of their diet coming from bird feed, then I'd be inclined to test regularly and worm as needed. But as my flock spends it's days ranging or in the compost bins, I'm not altogether concerned about it.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

While I completely agree with this, if taken out of context it might be misleading. To develop and maintain healthy 'natural' resistance, chickens will need as natural and healthy an environment as possible. Chickens that spend the majority of their time in a run are more likely to become infected with any number of fungi or parasites, including worms. Those of us fortunate enough to have free ranging chickens are probably less concerned with worms (I've never wormed anything other than an occasional dog) than those who must keep their birds penned.

As with all things, the entire ecosystem has to be taken into consideration. If I had to keep birds in a run, with the majority of their diet coming from bird feed, then I'd be inclined to test regularly and worm as needed. But as my flock spends it's days ranging or in the compost bins, I'm not altogether concerned about it.

Chickens picking up parasites is a completely natural process. Parasites are natural creatures, doing what comes naturally. Chickens are LESS likely to pick them up in places like enclosed buildings and runs because they simply aren't exposed to them, since they aren't in a natural environment. Chickens get parasites from eating snails, worms, and insects, or having contact with the feces of wild birds. Yes, having them all cramped together in a small run means that if they become infected, they will eat feces and then infect the whole flock or increase the parasitic load, but free-ranging is certainly not a way to keep your bird from getting them in the first place. External parasites and some nasty diseases are also passed from wild birds, so if we could keep our birds in a windowless barn, they'd actually have far fewer vectors for parasites and probably would need to be dewormed less, not more.

 

[vivinsetx]

I went organic crushed up garlic crushed hot pepper flakes. all all loved it. all are healthy. doing great

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

I went organic crushed up garlic crushed hot pepper flakes. all all loved it. all are healthy. doing great

How do you know? Did you have a vet-tested fecal sample indicating worms, then change nothing but feeding pepper flakes, then have a vet-tested negative fecal?

Organic and home remedies are great, but show me the science.