Do you need to worm if no signs are present?

[LDev]

Have a look on British Hen Welfare Trust site, really interesting

 

[foreverhome]

Eww... I'll bet that looked even better than pickled tapeworms. On a serious note, I was very interested to see your post on rescued ex-battery hens. Hard to find that in US.

 

[foreverhome]

Eww... I'll bet that looked even better than pickled tapeworms. On a serious note, I was very interested to see your post on rescued ex-battery hens. Hard to find that in US.

 

[ellie32526]

This is true! I think you are on to something!

 

[foreverhome]

It was a pretty impressive worm and looked really interesting under magnification but glad my wee hens are getting rid of them. If they were young birds they can be fatal due to the internal damage they can do which is why herbal repellants are great but in the interests of animal welfare I would not substitute them for correct wormer. It's a shame you don't have rescue services over there....maybe you should start one

There are people doing poultry rescue but they typically get just random birds from humane societies. Yes, of course they need homes too. But I had hoped to get a large number of rescued hens all at once. And if they were all from one flock at least quarantine would not be an issue. Actually I already started a rescue for cats and I couldn't handle any more!

 

[Misouki]

I have had chickens for 6 years now and until this past winter I have never add any illness and to my horror, I found live worms wiggling in my girls feces! It was quite disconcerting as I religiously clean everyday. I treated them but afterwards, as a prevention, I have given them one tablespoon of organic apple cider vinegar in their one gallon of water for several weeks. Sadly though, I wrecked my galvanized water dispenser- the acid corroded the metal! . Use a plastic one if using the ACV. So, off and on, I will use the ACV and hope not to see worms ever again.

 

[Hillschicks]

As i understand it there are natural worm remedies.. Garlic and most things from the squash family are said to take care of worms in chickens.. If we can do something, there is probably a more natural way to do it... Chickens have been around LONG before we had chemicals to "fix" them

 

[madame Ivory]

I've read that diatomaceous earth is fine to give them and works as a dewormer. I am also new to chickens so I'm not sure if more seasoned chicken owners would agree but all that I have read seems to be great.

 

[LDev]

Maybe just contact one of the commercial egg farms and see if they would be willing to sell you some 'spent' hens before they go to slaughter. No loss to them, getting rid of unprofitable stock anyway....just a thought Over here you just make a small donation to cover the charity costs of pick up and so they can pay for feed for hens they get to rehome afterwards if they haven't been allocated yet. I paid £3.50 each hen x

 

[TREX]

For those of you that use DE, do you add it to thier feed everyday or is it a once a week/monthly thing?