Gapeworm and waterbelly

[catballou]

Your goal is to stop the gapeworms lifecycle. It's the only way. Eggs will be in the soil for months. I highly recommend worming your birds monthly.
Your other option is to cull infected birds. Move your "non infected" birds to a clean area. Your non infected birds should be tested prior to moving them to clean soil. Then rotate foraging grounds.
Good luck.

Oh dear. I live on about 2 acres of mowed lawn, trees and flower/vegetable gardens in the middle of my 10 acres which is in hay.
Their run connects to my hores stalls and the coop is in the barn.
I guess I'll be worming every month.
Poor girls!

 

[dawg53]

Oh dear. I live on about 2 acres of mowed lawn, trees and flower/vegetable gardens in the middle of my 10 acres which is in hay.
Their run connects to my hores stalls and the coop is in the barn.
I guess I'll be worming every month.
Poor girls!

Worming birds monthly isnt as bad as you think it is. I've been doing it for years.
Here's a link for you. Please read posts #2 & #4:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/worms-in-chicken-poop.1575508/#post-26765905

 

[Mimi1008]

Waterbelly aka Ascites has nothing to do with worms.
There's not much that can be done about gapeworm eggs on or in the soil. Insects that have eaten gapeworm eggs are also a concern for your chickens because chickens love to eat insects (Indirect lifecycle.)

The only thing you can do for your chickens is to worm your birds monthly. I worm my birds monthly with Valbazen. I've used other other wormers including Safeguard, but Valbazen requires a less liquid dose than Safeguard.
Basically, you're worming your chickens as a monthly preventative much like giving a dog a monthly wormer.
We eat the eggs after using Safeguard or Valbazen, I'm still here typing.

However, if you suspect that you or a family member might have a reaction to either fenbendazole or albendazole, toss the eggs in the garbage for 2 weeks after the last dosing.
Keep in mind that both wormers are Benzimidazoles and are mostly excreted, only a small amount is absorbed into the bloodstream, and a minute amount in the eggs.

Hello, if using safeguard what’s the dosage?

 

[dawg53]

Hello, if using safeguard what’s the dosage?

Safeguard liquid goat wormer dosage is 0.23ml per pound of weight given orally to each chicken for 5 days straight.

 

[Mimi1008]

Safeguard liquid goat wormer dosage is 0.23ml per pound of weight given orally to each chicken for 5 days straight.

Is there a way to put it in their drinking water instead?

 

[Mimi1008]

Is there a way to put it in their drinking water instead?

 

[dawg53]

Is there a way to put it in their drinking water instead?

It's best to dose each bird one at a time orally, that way you know they got properly wormed.
Putting wormers in water is guesswork. You dont know if they drank it, drank enough of it to be effective, or didnt drink any at all...especially sick wormy birds. Also, chickens drink less in cooler/cold temps.
Please read the links provided in post #12 above on how to worm birds. Easy peasy.

 

[Mimi1008]

It's best to dose each bird one at a time orally, that way you know they got properly wormed.
Putting wormers in water is guesswork. You dont know if they drank it, drank enough of it to be effective, or didnt drink any at all...especially sick wormy birds. Also, chickens drink less in cooler/cold temps.
Please read the links provided in post #12 above on how to worm birds. Easy peasy.

Ok, I understand. Thank you so much for your response.

 

[Charlene W]

It's best to dose each bird one at a time orally, that way you know they got properly wormed.
Putting wormers in water is guesswork. You dont know if they drank it, drank enough of it to be effective, or didnt drink any at all...especially sick wormy birds. Also, chickens drink less in cooler/cold temps.
Please read the links provided in post #12 above on how to worm birds. Easy peasy.

I have about 50. Not easy peasy. lol

 

[dawg53]

I have about 50. Not easy peasy. lol

Please read post #4 in this link. It can be done, I've done it.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/worms-in-chicken-poop.1575508/#post-26765905