Someone has worms! Help

[GMoWilli]

I just let the girls out of their hutches and looked down to see a pile of about 3-inch long white worms in someone's dropping. Looked like rice noodles. If I use Wazine-17 I noticed it says on the bottle not to use this product with poultry producing eggs. Is this true? What should I do to get rid of the worms?

 

[Cuban Longtails]

I believe you can use the Wazine-17, just toss any eggs laid for two weeks afterwards.

 

[GMoWilli]

I called Flemming Labs, makers of Wazine-17, and they said that this warning is a statement they are required to put on their label because the product has not been approved by the FDA for egg consumption. They said they contacted the FDA for advice to address questions from people who had already used the product on their hens without noticing the warning and they were told not to consume the eggs for 17 days. Could this be where the 17 comes from in the name? In any case, I've read about Verm-x which seems to be popular in the UK. It's an herbal wormer and there is no egg withdrawal period. Has anyone used it and is it available in the US?

 

[mypicklebird]

I have tried verm-x, and it decreased the round worm eggs on fecal checks, but did not get rid of them completely. It is available in the US, as I bought it here. So subjectively it may be helpful, but not a panacea. Things like piperazine, pyrantel, ivermectin ect will kill roundworms more effectively, but are off label with laying hens. Most people using the off label drugs will toss eggs for 2 weeks, but technically with anything off label, the animal and products should never enter the human food supply due to unknown residues. Doesn't really mater if you are the only one eating the eggs, as the residue risk is only for you- but if you sell eggs (or give them to people)- this is another matter. People in general do not like drug residues in their food...

 

[gumpsgirl]

I use the Ivomec Pour on cattle wormer. Since it is made for meat and dairy cattle, you won't have a withdrawal time on the eggs (if you can still eat the meat and drink the milk, that would make sense, right?). Use a 1/2 cc (1/4 cc for bantams) on the back of each hens neck, directly on the skin. It is easiest to do this once they go to roost. It will also take care of any external parasites they might have.

After you have wormed your girls, there are several things you can do for preventative measures. You can feed them a hulled pumpkin seed and buttermilk mixture every other month, add food grade DE to their feed, and add organic apple cider vinegar to their water at a dosage of 1 Tbsp. ACV per gallon of water.

 

[Cuban Longtails]

Verm-X is available in the US. The supplier has a website listed here:

http://www.verm-xusa.com

 

[GMoWilli]

Regarding the Ivomec Pour-On, do I follow-up with a second treatment after some time period? Do you do this monthly or annually for deworming?

 

[GMoWilli]

Being the researcher that I am, here is what I've found out and concluded based on replies received here and further inquiry (I am posting this for posterity): I spoke with a vet who is solely employed by a large egg producer in my area, he said that as long as chickens are on the ground, roundworms can be an issue. The only way to prevent roundworms is to get the birds off the ground. For backyard chicken farmers, this is not really an option. The vet indicated that they are generally not that hard to deal with and don't usually pose a serious problem to the health of the chicken, and that a regular routine (every 6 months or annually) of worm maintenance is a good idea. The bottom line message for me was that, yes those worms are gross, but there is no need to freak out.

It appears that the pepitas (pumpkin seeds) and buttermilk DOES paralyze the worms, causing them to be expelled. I think this is why I found worms this morning -- because yesterday I gave them a bunch of kitchen scraps that included various nuts and seeds (pine nuts, etc.) that I wanted to toss. Here is what I plan to do: for immediate control of the worms, I will use Verm-x which is herbal and has the benefit of no egg withdrawal period. For maintenance, I will add cayenne to feed and apple cider vinegar to the water on a regular basis (I'm not sure on the dose, so if anyone has advice, I'd appreciate it). I will also feed buttermilk and pepitas followed up with molasses in water (to aid passing) about once a month; and use Verm-x twice a year or as needed (re-treat after 10 days). I will also disinfect with a spray-solution of dilute Clorox twice a year.

As I indicated previously, I called Fleming Labs, makers of Wazine-17 and that product is not officially approved by the FDA for use in egg-laying chickens although a withholding period of 17 days following final dosage seems to be un-officially recommended. I also called Merial, makers of Ivomec Eprinex and they could not recommend their product for poultry because they have not done studies on the use of this product in poultry.

I keep thinking that people have kept chickens and had to deal with roundworm far longer than these livestock meds have been available. I think I'll go the control route (rather than the eradication route), especially since this is likely to be a continuous battle since the girls are free-range. Afterall, this is why I have chickens -- I want to provide my family with healthy , chemical-free food.

 

[gumpsgirl]

Quote:
If you were to use it, then you would do a follow up on day 10 at the same dosage rate.

For maintenance, I will add cayenne to feed and apple cider vinegar to the water on a regular basis (I'm not sure on the dose, so if anyone has advice, I'd appreciate it).

As I stated above, it is 1 TBSP. per gallon of water. Make sure the ACV you use has the mother in it though. That's the beneficial part of the ACV. I always buy the Bragg brand.