Should I buy eggs or wait it out?

[cheeka]

he is so cute, with his lil white head... did it stay white? I would have wanted to keep him.

 

[okallthis4eggs]

Four

Four.....Today FOUR Eggs.

 

[animallover505]

I got 7 eggs, I think. Maybe 6...

 

[BullChick]

I kept him because I had room for him. This was taken the day I processed 5 others. No, he didn't keep the white. He is a RIR, so he is reddish brown (I call it Mahogany. Am I wrong?) with the black in the tail.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote:
Skip down to the blue for the short answer!

I have been reading about worms so much my head's spinning. Here's my take on the info- If your chickens walk on the ground, they have worms, which most can live with just fine, unless the worm load becomes too large. If you see worms in the poop, it is very late in the game and the birds' health is seriously at risk as worms do a great deal of internal damage. This also opens a compromised bird to secondary infections and diseases. There are different types of worms and not all worming medication will work for all types, most are off label wormers for larger livestock. Some vets or universities can check a stool sample for oocysts (worm eggs) from which they identify the type. Most vets are not familiar with chickens specifically, but can still do this float test. Oocysts are not visible without magnification except for tape worms, which package their eggs in those lovely little squirmy rice-like segments.

The closer chickens live to a 'natural' state, the more likely they are able to build resistance to and tolerance for worms. Wild birds without some natural tolerance do not survive. Since mine are cooped and restricted to a particular area, they are more susceptible to worm overload. Climate and soil conditions play a role. Warm, moist soil is a more hospitable environment for worms. Wild birds spread the joy of worms to all, as do other carriers in the worm life cycle such as flies, beetles, and yummy earthworms (say it isn't so!). So it doesn't surprise me that my girls had trouble in our mild wet winter and when I encouraged them to gorge themselves on earthworms.

Natural preventatives (pumpkin seeds, pepper flakes, ACV, etc) can help prevent infestation and encourage optimal health, but do not work to eliminate worms once they have taken hold. DE spread in the environment can reduce worm populations there, but feeding DE will not rid a bird of worms. I could not find any studies on the efficacy of pie.

Finally, the answer to your question:
As much as I don't like to, I'm going to medicate. Using 1% injectable ivermectin for cattle because I already have it, and it is used for dogs and people too. (If I ever buy it again, it will be pour on). Lots of controversy about whether worms have built a resistance to ivermectin due to it's frequent use against mites, but local folks have had success with it. No matter what you choose, they will need to be redosed at 10 days to kill newly hatching worms. It is advised to avoid eating eggs for 2 weeks after any medication, although withdrawl times vary. My dogs will get ivermectin eggs. Ivermectin is ineffective against tapeworms. If your pigs are thin they probably need worming too. Just make sure you check the timing before slaughtering, if that is their fate.

Anyone worming chickens regularly should rotate medications to keep the worms from developing resistance. Wazine is the only one approved for use in chickens. Valbazen is the only one that will kill all worm types, including the creepy tapeworms, and there are others commonly used (but I'm too lazy to look them up now). As a rule, most parasites are host specific, so the worms your chickens might get will be different from pig worms (different species of tape worms). You can't give chickens your head lice (for example, I'm not making assumptions!!) and while bird lice might crawl on you, you will not be a host for them. Of course there are some horrible exceptions to this general rule (think ticks), so I try to use caution.

Sorry for the lengthy reply. I'm sure you didn't intend to open up a whole can of worms with your question. Get it? Can of worms!

Was talking to my dad about this and he thinks I'm crazy, I shouldn't have to worm my flock because in 20 years

they never had to worm the barnyard chickens. Well, he forgot the the horses were wormed regularly, and where did the chickens spend a large portion of their day? Scratchin' in the horse poo, so they got wormed by default! He told me a gross-out story that he had read---- overweight people will intentionally ingest a tapeworm because it causes rapid weight loss. Apparently you can purchase them for this reason? Crazy? I think so.
I like the long version, this was what i was looking for, thanks so much!

I was trying to rationalize doing wormings for no good reason, other than the new pigs. With the 2 new roosters i guess i do have an excuse tho.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Well, W4W, I'm going to get pictures tomorrow

they are tint bantam sized! Sooooo cute!

They will stay at work till at least spring break. Unless something starts to pick on them. I really need more hens at work. I'm eggsatic about collecting eggs!!!!

Awww

cant wait to see pics!
I am on cutie overload. We snuck off to rural king in hopes of some silkies, even called first! No luck, i got there no bantam at all

They were all so adorable i got over it quick.

 

[showbarnmom]

12!!! I hit the mother load!

Kinda....

OK so none of mine are laying. Bug I got these for when it gets close. How cute!?

 

[Wishing4Wings]

I like the long version, this was what i was looking for, thanks so much!

I was trying to rationalize doing wormings for no good reason, other than the new pigs. With the 2 new roosters i guess i do have an excuse tho.

Some people down in the moist south routinely worm 3 times per year. Some around me twice a year. I think I will only do it if they are symptomatic. Don't think it hurts to worm them, but my feeling is to interfere with nature as little as possible. However, by domesticating them, we have interfered, so it's our responsibility to care for them the best we can.

Forgot to mention that it's good to give yogurt or buttermilk (Dawg says buttermilk is better) with some protein (Dawg says canned beef cat food) to help restore digestive health. Supplement for a few days after they are wormed or given antibiotics. I gave my girls some scrambled egg (got another egg with no shell today

) and some cooked freezer burned hamburger mixed with yogurt. They went wild! Not a bit of bickering because everyone was so intent on eating. They were even trying to lick the pan clean, which was pretty funny with their woefully short tongues!!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote:
I do home made yogurt almost daily for the babies and me too

they do get some scraps from meats, all cooked and a lotta mealworms. I was on a huge guilt trip for the worming. Feel a lot better about it now, many of the websites are saying to do it on a schedule. The vets here are really not interested in poultry at all. Still trying to find one

12!!! I hit the mother load!

Kinda....

OK so none of mine are laying. Bug I got these for when it gets close. How cute!?

oh my sooo cute!!!! what an awesome gift!

 

[ladytoysdream]

We have had our current flock 4 years this spring. I also have had chickens in the past growing up on a farm, and when we worked on a farm when the kids were little, we also had a flock. I have NEVER gave worm medicine to a chicken. My husband mentioned shortly after we got our current flock something about dusting them with this powder. I just looked at him and asked why. Our chickens did not have any problems. So why should we use medicine. So we don't.

When I sell eggs, I stress the point, that our flock gets no meds, and no chemicals are used in our garden. And the farmer next to us, does not spray the field on our property line. Our hens free range in the afternoons.