Never wormed my chickens -- should I?

[Celtic Chick]

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Neither have I, and I have a pair of banties that are 9 years old. Yikes!

 

[mariel37]

Oh interesting ... I have chicks about 6-7 weeks old.
I take it that these products are available at our local feed store ... when does one start the a worming regimen? I have had a puppy with roundworm, so since we are all in the same yard, perhaps it would not be a bad idea to do this as a preventative.

I actually prefer holistic - that's how I treat my horses for the most part - holistically for worms and in lieu of chemical shots.

 

[dawg53]

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Since your soil is the same as mine, I recommend you worm yours anywhere from 10-12 months for their first worming and semi annually thereafter. If you cant find the wormers at the feed store, they can be ordered from Jefferslivestock.com or you can call them. Shipping is fast, they are out of Dothan, Ala.

 

[tammye]

I have never wormed my hens in two years, i do put apple cidar vinegar in their water, have read here that it helps their immune system and prevents worms, kills worms whatever. I figure chickens in nature do not go to the store and buy chemicals to cleanse themselves, I sure mother nature provides them with some type of protection. But if you live in an area that is prone to having more worms in the soil, ect.. then you may feel the need to worm. I do check their poop everyday as i clean up, my hens are healthy and happy(most of the time).

 

[chickened]

Not all worms show in the droppings.
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[tammye]

I know you don't see all worms, but you may have worms too, your dog, your cats, we don't worm them all the time. I AM NOT against worming, so please don't think that, but I feel those wormers are quite strong and can make a weaker hen very sick, just like any animal, these are strong chemicals. Most of us got our own chickens so that our food would be more natural and chemical free. I live in NH and work in VT, the farmers I talk too don't worm there hens unless they are showing signs that they may have worms( then I would worm too). I read here of people worming once a year,not a bad thing to do, but what if they get worms in them the next day form eating somthing, those worms will be there for the rest of the year. I am not saying I am right believe me, but like alot of folks here I am not sure, so many different opinions. I personally believe that if they are healthy, live in a clean environment with fresh food and clean water and allowed to free range then my hens should be ok until I see one of them looking thin, weak, or see worms in there poop. I know mother nature knows more than us humans, hence the free range comment, I am sure some of the things they eat in nature must be helpful with natural worming, wild chickens don't get wormers from the store, just a thought! don't hate me, but wormers are insecticides-toxic stuff

 

[dawg53]

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"Wild chickens dont get wormers from the store." Yep, you're right. They dont live longer neither if they dont get wormed. Since you live in a colder environment, worming once a year would probably be best suited for your chickens.

 

[Lunachick]

I just noticed yesterday that a few of my hens had little "grains" in their poop that moved. I'm guessing tape worm?? The birds seem fine, I guess I gotta worm them.......my research says wazine then after two weeks another kind of wormer? I'm a bit confused.

 

[dawg53]

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Sure they wernt fly maggots? It wouldnt hurt to worm them anyway. If you suspect tapeworms, use Valbazen(albendazole) liquid cattle/sheep wormer. Dosage is given orally....1/2cc for standard size chickens and 1/4cc for smaller chickens. There's a 14 day withdrawal period. Forget wazine, it only gets rid of large roundworms.

 

[Lunachick]

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Sure they wernt fly maggots? It wouldnt hurt to worm them anyway. If you suspect tapeworms, use Valbazen(albendazole) liquid cattle/sheep wormer. Dosage is given orally....1/2cc for standard size chickens and 1/4cc for smaller chickens. There's a 14 day withdrawal period. Forget wazine, it only gets rid of large roundworms.

Thanks dawg!! I'm not sure - fly maggots? After Tallulah pooped I went over to check it out and there were these little dots in the poop that moved and stretched a bit then died

I also saw them in another's poop. I have the valbazen....I know what I'll be doing this afternoon. Thanks again dawg.