Is it safe to slaughter and consume chickens that may have tapeworm?

[DesertDweller]

I'm asking because I just discovered tapeworm segments in a couple droppings in their run. I have 15 chickens and they are 2 months old; more than half grown to finished size. I have dealt with tapeworm before with our egg layers, but I do not want to give these ones the nasty wormers that are required to get rid of them. The whole idea behind raising them was so that we may have organic meat.

I may be wrong, but since tapeworm resides in the intestines and those are removed, cooking and consuming them is safe...right? I'd really appreciate feedback. Thanks so much!

 

[GitaBooks]

I would think eating them would be fine, since they are cooked. Also, tapeworms live in the intestines, not the meat. I would say its safe!

I have heard that some people use apple cider vinegar to naturally get rid of parasites in some animals, and I know people give it to chickens, but I don't know if its gets rid of their worms or not.

Good luck with your chickens!

 

[enola]

Vinegar will not worm chickens.

 

[GitaBooks]

Okay. I wasn't sure.

 

[DesertDweller]

Yeah, it seemed safe to me, being cooked and all. Still gross and I thought I needed to ask.
It's a shame because we just built this new enclosure for them on new unworked land and we live in the desert where it's dry as a bone and they still got worms. We have neighbors who raises a LOT of livestock in cramped quarters, I'm convinced flying insects are the hosts carrying the tapeworm eggs.

 

[GitaBooks]

Tapeworms are gross!

Our cats and dogs get them regularly and sometimes they come out still alive and are crawling around. DISGUSTING!

 

[LBKS]

Yeah, it seemed safe to me, being cooked and all. Still gross and I thought I needed to ask.
It's a shame because we just built this new enclosure for them on new unworked land and we live in the desert where it's dry as a bone and they still got worms. We have neighbors who raises a LOT of livestock in cramped quarters, I'm convinced flying insects are the hosts carrying the tapeworm eggs.

Not sure about in regard to chickens, but at least with cats and dogs, fleas along with infected animals eaten (mice, birds, etc) can give them tapeworms. Not sure if flying insect can carry it, but if they had mice and your chickens caught a few mice that had fed over there, they could get it.

 

[dawg53]

Yes. Flying insects can carry infective tapeworm eggs.