Do You Need To Worm Them???

[ginbart]

I'm not sure what Forum to put this in, so I put it here.

Questions are, must you worm your chickens?

Why?

When?

Can you tell if they have worms?

What do I use, and where do I get it?

I have never wormed them.

Thank you.

Gin

 

[Guitartists]

Most seem to agree... yes

To keep them worm free of course

I think worms will not only effect the overall health of your bird, but also egg production

I recently read 4 times a year... but am thinking twice spring and fall would probably suffice also.

sometimes... just like with cats and dogs... some evidence of worms and parasites can only be seen under microscope.

Search and you will find your answer... some wormers only work for a certain type of parasite. Ivomec seems to be the broad spectrum treatment of choice... put please research for specifics and doses. dlhunicorn has some great info http://dlhunicorn.conforums.com/index.cgi

You can get it at a farm supply store

 

[mypicklebird]

Quote:
hmm- must you? no, you do not have to do anything.
why? If your chickens have any free ranging, they will be exposed to parasites, and accumulate them. If they live in cages off the ground, they have minimal exposure. Are you the type that likes to see a problem and react to it, or the type that practice preventative medicine (ie do you put flea control on your cat/dog year round, or treat for fleas only when you see them and their buddies the tapeworms).

When? Most people deworm during the winter months when egg production is down. If you have a bad parasite problem in your flock, you may need to do it more often.

Can you tell if they have worms? Having a fecal (or group fecal) done at a vet's will easily identify round worms (the vet sees eggs under the scope, not the worms). Tapeworms are easier for you to see, they look like cous cous on the outside of the feces. Diarrhea can be a sign of parasites, but not always. If your flock has a heavy parasite load, you may see worms or clumps of worms passing in the feces.

What you use depends on what you have in your flock. Tapeworms can be killed by praziquantel containing products. Lots of things will kill roundworm species. Wazine (piperazine) is the only on I am aware of that actually is labeled for chickens (meat birds). None of the products commonly used (albendazole, fenbendazole, ivermectin(s), praziquantel, piperazine ect) are labeled for laying hens. IE, no published withdrawal times. People use them, but it is at your own risk, do not sell eggs if you use these products.

Where to get these? Feed stores, on line medical supply, veterinarian. Many ways to obtain.

 

[Cetawin]

worming them is a great preventive health measure...worm them twice per year.

You can also give them food grade DE and/or apple cider vinegar in their water as maintenance preventative.


Here is a very helpful and informative page on worms and the worm medications.

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/439/treatment-of-intestinal-worms-in-broiler-breeders

 

[ginbart]

Thank you, I didn't know how they got worms. I do let them free range so I guess I better give them some meds.

 

[Guinea Goonie]

I have read that you should worm the chickens as you would worm your horses. In the fall, there are bot flies for the horses. So you should worm the chickens in the fall after egg production falls off. I used Wazzin and found it in the local feed store. The concentration was 1 fluid oz. per 1 gallon of water. i have a 3 gallon waterer and so 3 onces. I let them drink until the waterer is dry. Then I give them electrolytes and vitamines in the next 3 gallons and let this go dry. Then I repeat the process one more time. In the spring you should again worm becuase the horses then have tapeworms and roundworms. Because my birds free range, i presume that they will pick up any thing the horses do or are caused by the horses. Like wise the horses becuase of the chickens. Sounded logical to me.

 

[silkiechicken]

I'm not sure what Forum to put this in, so I put it here.

Questions are, must you worm your chickens?

No, you don't have to. I have never wormed mine in 10+ years. It's a personal choice. I feel meds are overused in both industry and pet care so if my birds are healthy, I'm not going to drug them up with anything.

Why?

Why should I worm them. They are "fat", happy, run around, are not lethargic, and so I rather not give them something meant to kill smaller organisms as drugs used through the bird end up in the environment and elsewhere.


When?

Take a fecal test to a vet and find out what kinds of worms they have, then find the right drug to treat the type they find. Why treat for worms they don't have or give drugs that can damage their internals if you're treating with a med that only kills one type of worm but they have the other?

 

[mtnhomechick]

My flock always seemed healthy. Recently I have started letting them free range for an hour or so a day. But, I never gave them wormer. Now that their ranging a bit I will check them more.

 

[ginbart]

Quote:
silkiechicken, I like your way of thinking. I think I will take a test to the vets and see if they have any before I treat them. Why treat if you don't know.

 

[Leah-yes I know I'm crazy]

Good question, Gin. I've never wormed in 8 years of having a small flock. DH thinks we must have some sort of immunity because of the soil ph. There are also hundreds of plants we can't grow.