Is worming necessary?

[Kubotabear]

I've been reading some information that suggests you worm your chickens regularly. I was wondering if this is a good idea for prevention, or really necessary? How do you know if your chickens have worms and what kinds of environments would expose them to worms?

Thanks for thoughts.

 

[paneubert]

How do you know if your chickens have worms?

Take a fecal sample to a vet and have them do a fecal float. Or get a microscope and do it yourself with some reference photos. You will be looking for worm eggs.

 

[chickentrunks]

Basically outdoors can expose them to worms through other animals' droppings, wild bird droppings especially. The biggest downside IMHO to worming once or twice a year is not being able to eat the eggs during that time. But it may help improve the survivability of your flock. My parents de-worm twice a year and live near El Paso, Texas; I'm in Albuquerque proper, a much more urban environment, and plan to de-worm twice per year myself, in the spring and in the fall.

I really like the idea of getting a microscope and DIYing it though!!!

 

[chkva]

I give my chickens ACV once a week... 1 TBS per gallon. It makes it so your chickens system is undesirable to worms. I use this on my dogs too (they've never had any worm our oldest is 9).

When you worm with medication, you can't eat the eggs.

I feel like giving meds for no reason, isn't very healthy. But to each their own... We all do things different!

 

[chickentrunks]

I give my chickens ACV once a week... 1 TBS per gallon. It makes it so your chickens system is undesirable to worms. I use this on my dogs too (they've never had any worm our oldest is 9).

When you worm with medication, you can't eat the eggs.

I feel like giving meds for no reason, isn't very healthy. But to each their own... We all do things different!

I also don't like the 'giving meds for no reason' approach, maybe my parents do it because there's not a poultry very around them?
I give my chickens ACV, 1 tbslp per gallon as well, all the time. I decided on that mostly for crop health reasons, but it's interesting to see that you say it's helpful for worm prevention as well. Now I really have to get a microscope - you're changing my mind haha!

 

[Shadrach]

Worming chickens does not prevent worms. The chicken either has, or hasn't got them.
Worms are not a problem until they reach a certain amount generally speaking.
Routine worming is not only a waste of time but it also reduces the effectiveness of the medication over time. The worms become immune to it.
I worm when a hen looks sick and I've had a fecal float done.

 

[chkva]

I also don't like the 'giving meds for no reason' approach, maybe my parents do it because there's not a poultry very around them?
I give my chickens ACV, 1 tbslp per gallon as well, all the time. I decided on that mostly for crop health reasons, but it's interesting to see that you say it's helpful for worm prevention as well. Now I really have to get a microscope - you're changing my mind haha!

I don't have a chicken vet where I am, but so far most holistic ways have worked for most of my chickens. I have never lost one and none have been sick...

 

[Kubotabear]

Interesting. I've been using AVC since they were days old when they looked really droopy and it perked them right up. I suppose it can't hurt to keep it up. I really do want to try and be as organic as possible but not at the expense of their health.

Speaking of which, because of their location and lack of easy water supply, we've set up a 55 gallon water tank down there. I know you can't keep water in a drum for too long because it can become contaminated with bacteria. I can find no organic way to treat the water. Every article says only chlorine will really work. Anyone else use stored water and how do you treat it?

 

[Seven_Hale]

I use food grade diatomaceous earth for my chickens every few months. It works great, don’t have to worry about the side effects of medications, and I just mix it in with their food

 

[Shadrach]

It works great,

Actually, it doesn't work at all.