What is to young to worm?

[flowerchild59]

Quote:
X2 and they say worming 2 times a year anyway but do you have reason to be concerned?

A few of my older hens are seeming kinda thin, not as big and hefty as they normally are and a couple are kind of slow. I feed a real good layer feed, they get cracked corn and black oil sunflower seeds as well a lot of treats. I worry where we have really harsh winters going into one thin is not a good idea.

If your hens are unthrifty, low weight, etc, you need to bite the bullet and worm them. I fed my hens well, and they slowly got lighter as the worms took their toll.

 

[flowerchild59]

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I did have them tested. I thought they had coryza they smelled so bad from the gut infection (had to tell which end smelled worse). I had them necropsied. Then treated them appropriately.
I can't see spending 10 to 20 bucks on a "fecal test" at the vet. Chickens will get worms when they are on ground. It is their nature. I plan to worm at least twice a year from now on.
The natural treatments or preventives as they are called, will be considered feed supplements at my farm. Medications will be used as needed. I would hate to crack open a egg and find a worm in it (or have one of my egg customers find one). I would be questioning my animal husbandry skills, that's for sure.

 

[mstricer]

I totally understand what you are saying. But in the same token I believe you notice symptoms before it goes to the death thing. I would believe there are a lot of organic farms that use other things then the harder medication that is in a wormer. I think that is way they don't speak up much, because of others beliefs, in using them. I'm glad to hear that everything worked out for you.
Michele

 

[dawg53]

Quote:
"I believe you notice symptoms before it goes to the death thing." Not necessarily so. Your birds can have worms without even showing symptoms. Remember that birds are good at concealing illnesses til the last minute. Do you know what damage a worm does to intestinal lining? Or many worms? By the time the death thing occurs, it's usually too late and the internal damage is irreversable.

 

[sham30]

Quote:
A few of my older hens are seeming kinda thin, not as big and hefty as they normally are and a couple are kind of slow. I feed a real good layer feed, they get cracked corn and black oil sunflower seeds as well a lot of treats. I worry where we have really harsh winters going into one thin is not a good idea.

If your hens are unthrifty, low weight, etc, you need to bite the bullet and worm them. I fed my hens well, and they slowly got lighter as the worms took their toll.

I'm thinking that is what is going on with mine, I have some that should still be laying and they are not. I am going to worm them and air on the side of caution. I feed alot of natural things that are suppose to aid and or prevent worms and what not but I think they need to get the good stuff. Thank you all for the advice and help!

 

[Avalon1984]

Quote:
"I believe you notice symptoms before it goes to the death thing." Not necessarily so. Your birds can have worms without even showing symptoms. Remember that birds are good at concealing illnesses til the last minute. Do you know what damage a worm does to intestinal lining? Or many worms? By the time the death thing occurs, it's usually too late and the internal damage is irreversable.

X2. They tell you to do the same with horses. You should worm well before you notice symptoms. I worm my chickens with an organic dewormer I bought at backyardchicken and it has worked great for me. Good luck to the OP.

 

[mstricer]

What was the name of the organic wormer. I'm not against worming, I just don't want to us chemicals to do it. Thank you.
Michele

 

[SteveBaz]

http://www.rain-tree.com/epazote.htm I have not tried bc i am on a DE regiment. for worming in spite of what specific post seems to not believe I do.

 

[mstricer]

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Steve I'm so glad you chimed in, I was getting pretty beat up over this issue. How do you use your DE. I'm trying to stay as natural as possible. Most of the posts seem to believe you are a bad chicken owner if you don't. Even if I put sand in my run,and free range my chickens all day, so they are not standing in dirt, which is where round worms come from. I would love to hear from more of the others that are doing this organically.
Michele

 

[Avalon1984]

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Hey Michelle,

I actually got it from my pet chicken.com, my bad, sorry. Here you go:


http://www.mypetchicken.com/catalog/chickens/WormGuard-Plus-2lb-bag-p778.aspx

There is no egg or meat withdrawl time either which is nice. You just mix it in theri food and they don't mind the taste at all.