Maine

[yankeehill]

Are there any natural wormers that could be used, or ones in which you don't have to avoid the eggs for a few weeks? I was reading in a magazine about pumpkins containing an element (protein maybe) that kills worms.

 

[buckabucka]

I've read that about pumpkin seeds, but I think it works more as a preventative. Some of mine have a heavy worm load.

I do think that all chickens get parasitic worms if they are allowed outdoors. Some people have good results using only natural wormers and keeping a healthy flock. Maybe if I were consistent in working natural wormers into the feeding schedule, it would keep the worms in check. Unfortunately, I am one of those people who only thinks about pumpkin seed in the fall when I run into them! Maybe when I am retired.....

 

[MEMama3]

I'm using rooster booster for a mild case of worms because my birds are fighting a respiratory infection in conjunction. I have my doubts as to how it would do with a heavy case and I'm not sure about the idea of giving antibiotics if they don't need it. I forget the med for worming. I know it starts with "h" and has been used since the good 'ol days. No withdrawal.

 

[yankeehill]

http://www.permies.com/t/1995/chickens/Hens-mites

I was doing research and came across the above link. In regards to worms, from that page (should be the last post on the page):
There are a few treatments that you can keep in your arsenal that can help if your flock gets mites but I can tell you that we kept chickens for over 30 yrs before seeing a mite and only then because we got chickens from a place of poor husbandry. When I got them I had to find something that could help them that was in the realm of natural, so here are a few things you can try:

Castor oil and NuStock for leg/scale mites, wounds, worms, fungal infections: Both are effective with just one treatment, in most cases. Both are comprised of all natural ingredients that are not harmful and only beneficial. Of the two, I am impressed with both...but the castor oil also can be used for deworming, if you so desire, as well as an antibacterial and antifungal treatment for wounds. I've never had to deworm a flock in all my many years, so that's just an option if you need it. The Nustock is good for wounds, fungal skin infections, hot spots on dogs, rain rot on horses, mange, etc. and is comprised of sulfur, pine tar and mineral oil only.

Dusting for lice and mites: Wood ashes help, sulfur dust can be found in any garden department and can be used to treat roosts, bedding and nesting material, as well as the birds and is effective as well. Some use lime for dusting the birds and bedding, as well as walls and roosts. If none of these work and you have a persistent case, Pyrethrin is a natural substance derived from the chrysanthemum flower that is very good for this. Do not confuse it with Permethrin, which is a chemical preparation that is more harmful to the environment, the insects and the animals in your care...not a good one to try, in other words. I don't use DE because of it's ability to harm beneficial insects as well, though I know many throw DE around like it's money, I never recommend it.

Worms: Castor oil is safe for humans and animals alike and has been used for centuries for this. Raw pumpkin seeds contain cucurbitin, a chemical that can paralyze the worms until they detach and are flushed out of the bowel along with the feces. Ginger root is another natural antihelmintic, as is garlic. Simple soap in the water acts as a surfactant and helps to dissolve the oils that protect the skin of worms, allowing them to be killed by the digestive acids and enzymes in the bowels. Black walnut hulls, while still green, are used for deworming. Charred wood has been used for this as well and one can flake off the char and add it to the feed mix....for other livestock, just place it in their pens and they will gnaw the charred bits off the wood.

The best treatment of all is to use preventative measures such as providing good dusting opportunities all year round, clean soils underfoot by providing free range, well managed deep litter in the coop to encourage beneficial microbes underfoot and predator bugs that prey on mite larvae, feeding and watering indoors where vectors such as wild birds, rodents, etc. cannot access feed and water. Treat roosts and nesting boxes if your area is prone to this problem, but not the bedding and the bird unless you actually HAVE a problem. Feeding fermented feeds or adding mother vinegar to the water can create a hostile environment in the bowel of chickens that can help prevent worm infestations but will not deworm a bird already infested.

One very important tool that no one ever mentions and that is yearly culling for health, performance, conditioning and appearance and feed thrift. Culling for these traits can naturally eliminate the birds that carry parasite loads due to poor immune system function and old age, while also preventing problems like egg bound, internal laying, prolapse, etc.

Avian biologists claim that 90% of the flock's parasites are being carried by 5% of the flock, so by eliminating those 5% of birds in a yearly cull by targeting the traits of a bird carrying heavy loads of parasites, one can keep problems like this down to animals who thrive well with an acceptable load of parasites and also breed for more of the same.

There are other all natural treatments for these things if one wants to dig, but these are the most commonly found and some of which I've actually used and can attest to their efficacy.

 

[anyasmifya]

Ahh, it's really snowing. My chickens don't want to come out of the coop. They don't know what's going on! LOL

 

[MEMama3]

Half of them are out and about. The other half are crowded in the door looking at me as if to say "what the heck is going on here?!?!"

 

[Wee Acre Farm]

Just in time, finished up yesterday

 

[ashandvine]

OH, thank you Universe for not sending me snow yet. I still have hickory seeds to put in and and and... oh boy. The longer my geese have grass the better for all of us.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

OH, thank you Universe for not sending me snow yet. I still have hickory seeds to put in and and and... oh boy. The longer my geese have grass the better for all of us.

I still have to plant my garlic.

It snowed this morning here but now it's melted and misting rain. Sure was pretty for a while. I grew up in an area where snow was rare and shut everything down. I used to stare out the window at the snow falling, because it was so beautiful and peaceful. I still do that for the first few storms up here, but then I get over it quickly.

 

[ashandvine]

Apparently sleeping in 20 minutes allowed me to miss the snowfall and I am so glad for both the rest and the ignorance.

Today was a baking day and oddly enough it was the day when the birds just had to all keep coming out front near the road- I do mean all, ducks, muscovies, geese, chickens of every breed.