To worm or not to worm? And what with?

[FarmGirlKate]

Hi there, I'm a bit new to the chicken game. I have two beautiful hens - a buff orpington and a silver laced wyandotte. I've heard mixed reviews as far as whether I should worm them and what with, and I was wondering if anyone had any input?

I have heard that I can use the following to worm them:

• Wazine (which I have, just in case, but have not used)
• Diatomaceous Earth
• A little bit of apple cider vinegar in their water
• Diluted goat wormer

Does anyone have any opinions on this? They have not gotten worms (as far as I know). This would be more as a preventative measure.

I also heard that you need to wait a week after giving them Wazine or goat wormer before eating any eggs they produce. Is that true?

Thanks!!!

-FarmGirlKate
littlefarmbigcity.wordpress.com

 

[Harry Rooster]

I'm just now facing the worming issue, so I've learned a few things recently. First of all Apple Cider Vinegar is more of a preventative thing, and doesn't get rid of worms if they already have them, it helps to keep them from being able to attatch somehow when they eat something that could cause them. Wazine, which I also have, only kills one kind of worm and that's roundworm, it doesn't kill any other of the many kinds of worms that chickens can get, so to me, it's pretty useless if you can get a wormer that kills all worms, I don't know what the purpose of having it is, haven't figured that out yet. Chickens should be wormed at least once a year wether you think they have worms or not. Even free range chickens can get worms because they can eat hosts that carry the worm larva that then hatches and breeds in the chicken, like earthworms and beetles, house flies ect. I didn't know chickens weren't supposed to eat earthworms because of this, but that's what I've learned in my research. Tapeworms are the hardest to kill and only a few wormers will kill tapeworms. (This is what I'm facing now) Don't remember how they get them, I think eating a host. Some of the best wormers I'm told are Valbazen liquid-all around wormer kills all worms, and liquid Safeguard, Ivermectin (is a wormer and for mites also, but I've heard some negative things about it, so I'm leary of it) Zimectin Gold equine paste kills all worms supposedly the best for tape worm elimination (will find out in a few days cause this is what I ordered), but it has to be given individually on a peice of bread instead of like liquid in the water for all. I think these ingredients Praziquantil comes in tablet form and is for tape worms, and Albendazole ingredient is for killing all worms even tape and is dosed by chicken's weight. Febendazole is good for worms except tape worms and dosed by chicken weight. That's just a few things I've learned. Anyway they say dose 1 time a year if you see worms or not because if they eat off the ground, they have worms. I've had chickens for over 7 yrs and have never wormed them, but now I find that my favorite cockerel has tape worms, and some new pullets we just got are full of several kinds of worms. You might want to listen to some more responces just to make sure. That's what I do, and research myself when I need to find out something.

 

[dawg53]

ACV doesnt prevent nor treat worms. DE doesnt prevent nor treat worms. Wazine only gets rid of large roundworms, chickens get many types of worms besides large roundworms. Safeguard liquid goat wormer is a good wormer but doesnt treat tapeworms. Ivomec products are about useless as wormers in poultry, but will treat mites. Zimectrin Gold is a very good wormer for tapeworms, that is all. There are other wormers, but by far the best wormer on the market; by effectiveness, price, quantity/quality, safest, expiration date, and what you get for your money is Valbazen liquid cattle/sheep wormer. It kills all worms.