WHEN TO DEWORM-PROPHYLACTICALY OR AS NEEDED?

[bwebb7]

I posted this on the heading...
I have a flock of 20 hens hatched May 16th. I treated them with Piperazine when they were 6 weeks old. (I always wormed puppies at regular intervals) I haven't started to get eggs yet-though soon I'm sure.
What I want to know is should I go ahead and Ivermectin them before they start to lay or just treat as needed?
I hate to think they are walking around with parasites. I would think they could decline quickly?

 

[tiki244]

Worming every 6 months is ok if you get the right kind of ivermect and only give them a small amy and dont eat the eggs for a couple of weeks after (of course yours arent laying yet)

 

[speckledhen]

Believe it or not, a healthy bird can carry a small worm load with no problem. It's when it gets out of hand that you see them become droopy with weird poop, etc. I did not worm my flock till they were two years old and then again when they were close to three, and the only reason I did it is that I did see a worm in one rooster's poop. If you use natural worm preventatives, you may never see a worm load that needs chemicals. Also, its been proven that freeranging chickens do tend to eat plants and other things on range that are natural wormers as well.

 

[Wynette]

Case in point: I had a chicken to the vet about 2 months ago. She's about 1 1/2. While on the trip up, she pooped in the carrier, so I had a nice (?) fresh one to ask the vet to check. She did a fecal, and it came back completely negative. I've got 7 others in that pen, have had them since day-olds, and not a worm one!

I do understand when folks worm occasionally, just to be safe, but it's a personal choice. I'm with Cyn; I won't do it unless I see evidence to tell me I need to. You need to do what makes you feel comfortable.

 

[bwebb7]

Yeahhhh! I did not relish the idea of 21 little drops on these birds!
What are some "natural wormers"?
Would that be DE?
They don't get to free range too much-(2 hours daily) until my run is complete.???

 

[Wynette]

ACV (apple cider vinegar) with the "mother" in it (you can get it at health food stores - it will have debris in the bottom) is apparently known to keep the worms away, if you don't already have an infestation. If you do a search on here for ACV, you'll find a ton of info. on it.