Pumpkins & Buttermilk?

[allisojo]

Hi all - I read in some recent posts that pumpkin seeds and buttermilk can act as a natural de-wormer. Has anyone done this effectively? We've got a small flock of 9, all of whom are all less than six months old. I'm not comfortable worming them yet, but I've seen some suspicious stools in the hen house the last few days, and I'd like to try something. Any advice would be much appreciated.

PS - none of the pullets are laying yet, if that matters to anyone's analysis. Thanks!

 

[speckledhen]

Pumpkin seeds and buttermilk is a natural worm preventative-it more prevents an overload of worms than actually worms birds who have big worm loads. A healthy bird can handle some worms; it's just when they overpower the system, so to speak, that they should be wormed. A natural ingredient in pumpkin, curcurbit, paralyzes the worm so it can be expelled. It's sometimes suggested that you do a molasses flush (molasses in water) to hurry the paralyzed worms out of the system. I routinely give these to my girls as treats and sometimes put pumpkin seed in with the 11 grain scratch, too. I have wormed my three year old flock twice, and only did it the first time because I saw one worm in the poop of a rooster. Used Eprinex Pour On, which gets most worms, though probably not all kinds.

 

[allisojo]

Thanks. How much pumpkin and buttermilk is too much? I've got several leftover baking pumpkins from Thanksgiving that are getting soft. Could I give them one each week, or is that overkill? Thanks!

 

[speckledhen]

You could give it once or twice a week, I'd think. Too much will keep them from eating their feed as they should, just like giving any treats, etc. Go easier on the buttermilk than the pumpkin, but what I do sometimes is make oatmeal and cool it off with buttermilk and put pumpkin seeds in the oatmeal. They love it.

 

[allisojo]

Those are great ideas. Thanks very much!

 

[MissDollie]

Pumpkins are good for a lot of things. Glad to hear they were a natural wormer. I have a bountiful resource available.

 

[NurseNettie]

I'm glad to hear the pumpkin seeds are good for them--- through the "harvest" season I gave mine pumpkin a couple times a week-- 1 or 2 of the ones that weren't suitable to store, cut in pieces, in the run-- they ate the whole thing except for the rind, in very short time!! I've got a couple more that need to go-- I think they'll get them tomorrow

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

Is it just the pumpkin seeds or will canned pumpkin work the same way?

 

[horsejody]

Quote:
It's the seeds, not the flesh. And if I remember correctly, it is only effective on tape worms.

 

[spatcher]

And they have to be "green" seeds!