How to choose wormer

[ikatiemay]

I havent wormed my chickens yet, they are all about 8mo old. Its really cold here and they are inside most of the time. They dont like the 3 ft of snow on the ground!! When should I worm and what is the best wormer to get. I havent seen any parasites on them, maybe i will take the magnifier out and take close look. I havent dusted them with anything either do i need to do that? Here in northern utah we dont have fleas at all does that mean the girls wont get bugs like mites?? Sorry Im new to this, I actually looked in my 3 chicken raising books but couldnt figure it out.

 

[Judy]

They are going to get worms and lice/mites. The latter are not fleas, they are very tiny critters and come from wild birds. All it takes is a buzzard flying over the chicken yard. Worms of course are in the soil. So it's a matter of keeping them under control.

For lice/mites, probably the simplest thing is to use poultry dust (usually permethrin/pyrethrins) in the coop and on the birds if you see them (at night with a light; very tiny) or every few months. If you'd rather spray them, this comes in spray bottles at TSC or Adams flea and tick spray at WalMart or the vet. For worms, I think most people worm once or twice a year. I'll give you some links; you need to decide how you want to do this. Lots of other threads on these subjects on here.

http://healthybirds.umd.edu/Disease/Deworming Birds.pdf

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=203048&p=1

http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/pdf/8162.pdf

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=425486

 

[ikatiemay]

Thanks DDAWN I just love my chickens and all of this talk about worms and bugs is grossing me out!!! They Love it when I hold them and blow warm air on the back of their necks, maybe im getting just a little too close??? I will check out the links you sent and get the job done!