Please bear with me. I read posts that imply there is a preventative schedule being followed for shots, worms and the like. The only preventative thing I have seen is for Mareks. My question, is there a schdule for vaccines or a worming program that should be followed? Or is it respond to the issue as it arises? Just looking for healthy carefree hens. Thanks
I worm my hens every three months, same day as the dogs, aviary birds and rabbit. The theory is to worm all animals you own so they don't re-infest each other. Especially since the dog eats their poo! None of my animals have ever had a case of worms so it must work! I've also been told that garlic can control worms naturally. You can mince a clove of garlic and add it to a slice of torn up bread and mix it with milk then feed it to the chickens. That will feed my four, increase to however many you have! I give this mix to my girls in between proper wormings partially because they just love it!
I don't regularly worm our chickens (or dog), but I do get fecal checks done. None of them has ever came back positive, so not worming works, too!
As you already see, it's an individual choice. I know there are worms in my area so I worm routinely, probably twice a year. I also sprinkle Sevin in the nests, dust baths and litter occasionally, so mites/lice don't get out of hand -- I've never seen one in spite of checking, but I know they have to be around as wild birds fly over their yard all the time. I'll give you some links to look over. https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=472405 http://ohioline.osu.edu/vme-fact/0018.html https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=5770173#p5770173
