Fall Deworming - Ivermectin? Dewormer in the water supply?

[sunrise.superman]

Hello!

Normally the horses, goats, etc. are dewormed in the Fall. My chooks have all slowed waaaaay down on the laying so I thought I would deworm now. I've searched forums and get such wonky returns that I'm not sure the best route to go. A few hens are eating very well but still thin. I haven't seen any parasites, but they free range in a large yard, so it's not conducive to really monitoring the poops from every hen. Submitting samples over time gets mixed results as far as showing anything since parasite eggs aren't always shedding and I have multiple ladies.

I have Ivermectin injectable on hand, but happy to get something else. I'm hoping for a dewormer I can put in their water as I have a few dingbats that are friendly enough to beg for treats but go absolutely bonkers when held...even when they should be comparatively catatonic. I don't have anyone to help hold them so I'd rather not have a chicken rodeo with aspirated dewormer if I can avoid it.

I have 15 hens, mixed breeds - only one bantam, would say at least 5 or 6 are thinner than I'd like despite eating well. And they're middle to upper level in pecking order so I doubt it's due to being chased off from the feed. They get fermented Scratch N Peck grower (still have 4 younguns), oyster shell, meal worms, fruit and veggie scraps as available, free range a large yard.

Best dewormer I can put in water so everyone can dose themselves? Dosage/time frame? I realize I need to not use eggs while deworming with most dewormers.

 

[chicknmania]

We use Levamisol in the water and it has worked very well for us. We get ours from www.firststatevetsupply.com and the directions are on the bottle. I've read of people using injectible Ivermec in the water but have also read it's not a reliable dewormer. We use every six months, initial dose and then ten days later. If you've had a significant worm infestation, I'd use it two days in a row for the first application, then switch out for fresh water, repeat in ten days for one day. This is what our vet suggested, and it worked well.

 

[chickens really]

Chickens don't need to be wormed unless you know they have parasites. I have never wormed any birds.

 

[Folly's place]

If you have seen roundworms or tapeworms in their poo, or have positive fecals run, then treat with the right drug. Otherwise, don't give any wormer, it's not needed.
The only approved product is fenbendazole, BTW.
Mary

 

[chicknmania]

Chickens don't need to be wormed unless you know they have parasites. I have never wormed any birds.

That is not true. There are many worms that can't be seen so how would you know?? Once a chicken gets Capillary worms, you might as well forget it, because even if you try to deworm after that, by the time you notice symptoms the chicken is already very ill and usually will not survive. There is nothing wrong with preventative deworming, and it is recommended by our veterinarian. We've been doing it for years, after learning about Capillary worms.

 

[chicknmania]

If you have seen roundworms or tapeworms in their poo, or have positive fecals run, then treat with the right drug. Otherwise, don't give any wormer, it's not needed.
The only approved product is fenbendazole, BTW.
Mary

The OP already said it's pointless to have fecals run, because there's no way to tell whose is whose, or really, if it is fresh poo or not. There is nothing wrong with preventative deworming, especially if you have a free range flock.

 

[chickens really]

That is not true. There are many worms that can't be seen so how would you know?? Once a chicken gets Capillary worms, you might as well forget it, because even if you try to deworm after that, by the time you notice symptoms the chicken is already very ill and usually will not survive. There is nothing wrong with preventative deworming, and it is recommended by our veterinarian. We've been doing it for years, after learning about Capillary worms.

We all reply to the best of our knowledge and experience.
What you do for your Birds isn't the same as everyone else's program. I'm not wrong at all. I just do things differently than you..

 

[Shadrach]

The OP already said it's pointless to have fecals run, because there's no way to tell whose is whose, or really, if it is fresh poo or not. There is nothing wrong with preventative deworming, especially if you have a free range flock.

There is lots wrong with preventative worming mainly it doesn't work.
You could worm your chickens this week and they could pick up worms the following week.
Unless you wormed say every month then at some point between the preventitive worming your chickens may well have worms and go untreated.
The next point is the constant use of worming chemicals will in time render the wormer ineffective.
It is far better to get a fecal float done by a lab and worm the chickens that have worms.

 

[chicknmania]

There is lots wrong with preventative worming mainly it doesn't work.
You could worm your chickens this week and they could pick up worms the following week.
Unless you wormed say every month then at some point between the preventitive worming your chickens may well have worms and go untreated.
The next point is the constant use of worming chemicals will in time render the wormer ineffective.
It is far better to get a fecal float done by a lab and worm the chickens that have worms.

My flock is living proof that it does work. Unless you're a veterinarian, I'm not sure why you'd disagree with one.

 

[chicknmania]

We all reply to the best of our knowledge and experience.
What you do for your Birds isn't the same as everyone else's program. I'm not wrong at all. I just do things differently than you..

Whatever you want to do for your flock is fine with me. Depending on where you live, you may not have a lot of parasites to deal with. I'm just saying...don't look for Capillary worms in the poo because you will not find them. And they kill. Really. And there's nothing "wrong" with preventative deworming. Lots of people do it. I used to not do it, and I had a lot more problems with sick birds. Parasites, external or internal, are the root cause of almost all other health issues in poultry, IMO. And if the bird DOES have some health issue not related to parasites, that they might be able to get over otherwise? Parasites will bring them down the rest of the way. Guaranteed. Lots of people just cull sick birds. We don't.