Do you need to worm if no signs are present?

[Frost Homestead]

I worm by birds every 6 months as a preventative measure. I give them wazine in their water, then I wait about a week and do the pour on ivermectin. My chickens free range so they get into all kinds of stuff. When it comes to parasites I tend to err on the side of caution and avoid "natural" remedies because truth is...they usually don't work. I have found this routine works well and my birds never have worms or parasites.

 

[LDev]

Have you ever thought of getting their faeces checked for parasites? It would save you money in wormer and means you wouldn't be dosing unnecessarily

 

[Frost Homestead]

no, I imagine having that done would cost a bit more than the wormer?

 

[LDev]

no, I imagine having that done would cost a bit more than the wormer?

Get a quote from your vet but here it is cheaper

 

[kynewbchickie]

Just like flock management techniques, there's a ton of personal choice/opinion in this question. Saying one thing works or doesn't work is pretty general - different things work for different people in different climates and in different circumstances. Some of us prefer natural methods that do work for some people with no further problems...and some of us prefer to go straight to the medicines that do work for others with no negative effects. Due to that, there's really no reason to tell people what they're doing is wrong or right on either end of the spectrum.

People should do what works for their flocks - as long as the birds are healthy, happy, and are producing parasite-free eggs and meat...that's all that matters, right?

 

[Fancychooklady]

Just like flock management techniques, there's a ton of personal choice/opinion in this question. Saying one thing works or doesn't work is pretty general - different things work for different people in different climates and in different circumstances. Some of us prefer natural methods that do work for some people with no further problems...and some of us prefer to go straight to the medicines that do work for others with no negative effects. Due to that, there's really no reason to tell people what they're doing is wrong or right on either end of the spectrum. People should do what works for their flocks - as long as the birds are healthy, happy, and are producing parasite-free eggs and meat...that's all that matters, right?

"Diddo"

 

[casportpony]

Have you ever thought of getting their faeces checked for parasites? It would save you money in wormer and means you wouldn't be dosing unnecessarily

Remember that it's possible to get false negatives. For me, with turkeys and peafowl, that's just not a risk that I'm willing to take with them and the problems associated with cecal and capillary worms.

And here, the cost of the wormer is way less than a test a the vet or lab. One liter of fenbendazole, which will treat 250 4kg birds is about $100, and one test, if you can find a vet to do them without an office visit is $25, add $45 for an office visit.

-Kathy

 

[mtadkins5]

I worm by birds every 6 months as a preventative measure. I give them wazine in their water, then I wait about a week and do the pour on ivermectin. My chickens free range so they get into all kinds of stuff. When it comes to parasites I tend to err on the side of caution and avoid "natural" remedies because truth is...they usually don't work. I have found this routine works well and my birds never have worms or parasites.

What measurements do you use? I am getting my first chicks in a week and would like to know when to do this plz.

 

[Chicken Hutch]

I have 2 babies about 5 weeks old. The Parents are free range. I noticed yesterday that one of them had something, wheat color crawling around the back-end area. At first I thought it was lice, but now I am wondering if it is worms. Because I thought lice I dusted them with poultry dust. Today I haven't seen any critters. One of the babies has less fluff, especially around the neck. I am a beginner and want to right by the babies.

 

[dawg53]

I have 2 babies about 5 weeks old. The Parents are free range. I noticed yesterday that one of them had something, wheat color crawling around the back-end area. At first I thought it was lice, but now I am wondering if it is worms. Because I thought lice I dusted them with poultry dust. Today I haven't seen any critters. One of the babies has less fluff, especially around the neck. I am a beginner and want to right by the babies. 

Worms cant survive outside the host. If you see them moving, they are either dead or dying. Most likely you're dealing with lice and the poultry dust will get them. Dust inside the coop/nests or habitat as well, repeat dusting again in 7-10 days. Your two 5 week old chicks are too young to worm. The minimum would be around 10 weeks. However, your soil dictates when and how often you should worm. Warm moist/wet soil may require frequent wormings vice cool/dry desertlike or rocky/mountainous soil.