Feeding quail pumpkins for deworming

[lanimilbus]

I've heard from a few people who raise their quail on the ground that they deworm their birds by feeding them raw pumpkin. I've got 5 pumpkins on my front porch that are (I think) still fresh and I've been planning on giving one or more of them to my quail but I'm not sure how to go about it. Should I just cut one in half and put it in their pen and let them have at it, guts, seeds, flesh, stem and all? Or do I only give them a certain part (like just the seeds)?
The other thing I was wondering about was how long this will last them for before they'd need another "dose" of treatment -- weeks, months, a year?
Thanks for any help!

 

[TwoCrows]

I feed my chickens pumpkin in hopes of deworming them. I am not sure if it works or not, but it can't hurt and is good for them. I believe that the seeds have the most effect on the worming process, however all this being said, I have never tried to worm my quail with it. I am not even sure quail will eat squash. I once tried cubing some acorn squash and gave it to the quail, and there were no takers on it. And my quail are used to me feeding them odd things.

But I would suggest you chop it up into small pieces and if you can, chop the seeds up as they will be too big for quail to eat. You could put the seeds in a blender or something along these lines. I have heard one dose is good enough, along with feeding pumpkin for 2 full weeks. I am not sure. If they ate enough of it, one dose might be enough. I know my chickens will consume the entire thing in a few hours and I will usually feed it once in a while, but not for 2 weeks straight. Good luck!

 

[rittert3]

I wonder if the seeds from the little (mini pumpkin) gourds would have the same properties, they look just like pumpkin seeds but 1/4 the size (to me that would be easier for quail to get down). I don't know if cutting/ drying, ect. would alter the deworming properties of the seeds? good topic

 

[navasima]

Have pumpkin seeds actually been proven to prevent against worms?

Well....this seems to be one of the "great debates". I believe that I've read about equal numbers as far as those who adamantly swear by it and those equally adamant that this is utter nonsense.

Truly, I haven't decided which side of the fence I fall on yet......

I've given pumpkin to my chickens because - hey - they like it! If quail would enjoy them...they can have some too!
Worst case - a bit of pumpkin will do no harm.....

JMHO

 

[7L Farm]

Hey if they will eat it give it to them. Its natural.

 

[Olive Hill]

Quote:
If what you mean is, have they been proven to have anthelminthic properties? Yes.

Two such studies of interest:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19135803

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15614300

 

[navasima]

Thank you for those!

Based on the info in those links, I can appreciate the effectiveness as a preventative, but not as treatment for an established infestation. Though I understand the cycle would be broken, I'd want the 100% of the adults done in right away!

 

[Olive Hill]

What did you read that makes you come to that conclusion?

 

[navasima]

The rate of inhibition of larval development noted in the first thread. The rate of lack of motility in adults noted in the second thread was signifigant...just not enough for me.

 

[Stellar]

A natural remedy of worm control is pumpkin.

You can get a bottle of Wazine at the feedstore. That is an effective treatment for worming as well

I tend to go with more natural stuff so pumpkin it is!