My hen is broody - should I take this opportunity to worm her?

[ll]

She isn't laying, so is now a good time? Then I don't have to throw away so many eggs?

 

[RedDrgn]

Does she have worms? If you don't know, then take a fecal sample to a local vet (any dog/cat vet can do this) and have them analyze it and find out. It's quick, cheap, and then you don't have to waste eggs either way.

 

[Urbanfarmerkc]

No absolutely NOT! When a hen goes broody, she eats less, drinks less and has a great deal of stress put on her. THEN she hatches chicks and has to raise them... again more stress... Worming your chickens can create stress also especially if they are discarding a lot of worms...

You need to worm in the early spring and fall. That is the schedule that the old folks used to follow. If you want to continue to eat the eggs, consider worming throughout the year with Diatamacious Earth. I worm mine with DE every 6 to 8 weeks. DE is actually made with natural silica which is good for your birds. It is a great way to manage your birds... But if your hen is going set, don't even use DE with her!

Hope this helps.

Dave

 

[RedDrgn]

If you want to continue to eat the eggs, consider worming throughout the year with Diatamacious Earth. I worm mine with DE every 6 to 8 weeks. DE is actually made with natural silica which is good for your birds. It is a great way to manage your birds... But if your hen is going set, don't even use DE with her!

DE is not a wormer. It's a desiccant and does no more good than sand or regular old dirt (which is to say nothing) when saturated with moisture (which it is if it's inside a chicken's body). It can be used to keep feed/bedding dry and will help to combat external parasites and pests (by drying them out), but that's the extent of its ability.