I wormed them and got nothing.

[reef10]

My hens are 2 years old and have never been wormed. They often go outside in the yard and are otherwise kept in a coop on the floor. I decided to worm them according to the information I found here. I gave them the "light" wormer in the water followed 10 days later by the drops on the back. I did not see any worms in the poo. I very much expected to see something. They have mostly started to lay again but it is also spring so I would expect it. Should you be able to feel a keel bone in a normal healthy bird or does that always mean they are unhealthy for some reason. My birds are full size egg layers. How do I know I am done with worming? Getting the medicine into the chickens is far from exact. I did not have a specific reason to worm such as a sick hen I just figured that I was not getting any eggs anyway so why not.

For people who worm 2 times a year: Do you always see worms the next day or the next week? How long does it take for the worms to be passed?

 

[dawg53]

What was the "light" wormer you used in the water and what did you put on their backs 10 days later? If it was wazine17 in the water and 10 days later ivermectin pour on,you did the same exact thing that I normally do. You may not see worms expelled from your chickens, only if you had an infestation would you see them in the poop. They were probably absorbed as protein in the chickens digestive system. I've never seen worms expelled from my chickens after worming. However about 3 weeks ago I found a tapeworm in one of the nests,I'm currently treating them for that with a different wormer. Dont worry, you shouldnt have to worry about tapeworms unless you actually see one like I did. It sounds like you've done everything right. I have a semi annual worming program only because of where we live,our soil here is always wet and damp, high humidity,like living in a swamp; very condusive for parasites. If we lived in a drier place, I'd probably only worm once a year. My egg production always picks up after worming, springtime or not, too bad i have to throw them away for 2-4 weeks though.

 

[reef10]

Yes those are the wormers that I used. I did not think of the chickens redigesting the worms because of the fact that they are in the intestines. Get that protein back where it belongs. Thanks for the reply. It is interesting that your egg production picks up as well because mine sure did.

 

[lemurchaser]

I had a fecal exam done on a few of my 1 year old girls that free-range. I figured they'd have something. But nope, no parasites.

I wouldn't worry about not seeing worms, they don't digest them, but they can break up in the GI tract or you might just have missed them. If your birds are healthy, I'd say you're done de-worming for now.

 

[mstricer]

Why would you put poison in your chickens for no reason. Do you use DE or ACV? These are both natural wormers. I don't understand why? Sorry not trying to be a, you know what, but I don't get it.

 

[chickletranch]

preventative worming is NOT a bad thing. you are not "poisoning" your chickens anymore than you are poisoning your dog or cat by using advantage or another flea-preventative. why worm? because by the time you discover that your flock has worms, damage may have already been done. i was lucky enough to get by with DE for a couple of years, but had a serious worm problem last year. now we worm twice a year, period. my vet recommended following the initial worming (we use ivermectin or fenbendazole, given orally) with a repeat dose 3 weeks later.

lynn

 

[chickenzoo]

DE and ACV have never worked for me as a sol wormer, I always use a chemical wormer also. I have a lot of chickens and the more you have the more at risk they are.....

 

[dawg53]

chickletranch and chickenzoo are absolutely correct about DE, ACV, as well as cayenne pepper, VetRx; they are preventatives and that is all. I use cayenne pepper and food grade DE in between semi annual wormings of wazine, and 2 weeks later I use either of the following as secondary wormers; ivermectin pour on, safeguard or valbazen. Without worming, I'd hate to crack open an egg one day and find a roundworm in it. Yuck (gag)!!!