Information for Worming my Chickens

[RedDrgn]

Do your chickens HAVE worms? Have you had a fecal sample tested or seen evidence of worms yourself? I just don't agree with shooting in the dark when it comes to medicating, whether it's myself or my animals. For $20, I take a flock composite (because if one bird's positive, they all are or soon will be) fecal sample to my vet and have them analyze it. Then, I know if they have worms and what kind and can choose the wormer accordingly. Pretty much any vet that runs fecal samples for worms can do this, even if they don't treat chickens. You can always come back to BYC to get information regarding dosing.

 

[I Love Lucy]

Do your chickens HAVE worms? Have you had a fecal sample tested or seen evidence of worms yourself? I just don't agree with shooting in the dark when it comes to medicating, whether it's myself or my animals. For $20, I take a flock composite (because if one bird's positive, they all are or soon will be) fecal sample to my vet and have them analyze it. Then, I know if they have worms and what kind and can choose the wormer accordingly. Pretty much any vet that runs fecal samples for worms can do this, even if they don't treat chickens. You can always come back to BYC to get information regarding dosing.

One of my hens has suddenly loss some weight, and I had made no changes to her diet.

Since losing weight, I've started giving her extra feed high in protein, and that's not fixing it.

I figured worms could be the cause, so I came here to learn about worming them...

 

[WI FarmChick]

That is great you came to get info to help you figure out whats wrong with your girls. Awesome!

One of my hens has suddenly loss some weight, and I had made no changes to her diet.

Since losing weight, I've started giving her extra feed high in protein, and that's not fixing it.

I figured worms could be the cause, so I came here to learn about worming them...

 

[RedDrgn]

One of my hens has suddenly loss some weight, and I had made no changes to her diet.

Since losing weight, I've started giving her extra feed high in protein, and that's not fixing it.

I figured worms could be the cause, so I came here to learn about worming them...

I understand that you're trying to help them (and that's awesome), but those symptoms do not automatically mean that they have worms. There could be something else wrong, and keep in mind that worming medications cause their own stress and strain on a chicken's system. So if you dose them for worms, and they don't have worms, then you could be putting an additional (and unnecessary) strain on their system that could make whatever the problem actually is, worse.

If you have the ability, check with your local veterinary clinics about running fecal samples. It's cheap, it's easy, and then you KNOW if worms are what you're dealing with. Additionally, the vet will be able to tell you which worms you're dealing with (if there are any), so you'll know which wormer to choose.

 

[NYboy]

Any vet can run a stool sample. I live in a city, my vet only treats cats and dogs yet ran a stool sample on my hens. They had round worms treated with panacure.