Wormer advise: Before I do something dumb

[Sahraschweiss]

I am new to chickens. I have 14 mixed breed 3 week old chicks that I have been taking out into a small temporary run for an hour or so on warm sunny days. These girls are awesome fast at finding earthworms in the lawn! I have them on chick starter for feed and chick grit with probiotics since they started the outings. I have since read that earthworms carry thread worms. So far poops look the same as before we started adventure time.

Do I start them on a dewormer? If so, when/ what age? I do want them to be layers. I've seen food base and ones to add to water.

Any feed back a dosing guide lines would be appreciated.

 

[centrarchid]

I very seldom use de-wormers. The only times de-wormers are used is when I see worm sign in feces and reduced weight with reduced energy levels. Another less obvious sign is a bird that can maintain weight, but eats more than typical and drinks a lot producing runny feces that shows worm sign. I watch birds in the latter group closely. We have a decreasing arsenal of de-wormers because they are used to much, often prophetically where the treatments provide no benefit to chicken health select for worms that can resist the de-wormer agent used.

In my setting, those needing de-wormer or chronically show the less obvious signs are culled.

Most people you will find do not use de-wormers at all, and are often oblivious to any health effects, if any, of the worms. Others you will find use it part of a regular poultry keeping regimen.

You will likely get links in short order describing treatment regimens from parties that are more well versed in proper applications of most pharmaceuticals to chickens.

 

[CCUK]

If you suspect your chickens have worms can you send a fecal sample to a vet to have it checked? They will advise you as necessary. Culling a chicken because it has worms seems a little over dramatic to me.

 

[centrarchid]

If you suspect your chickens have worms can you send a fecal sample to a vet to have it checked? They will advise you as necessary. Culling a chicken because it has worms seems a little over dramatic to me.

Selecting for disease resistance. Dramatic is treating a chronic health issue. Selection approach works with closed flocks.

 

[Sahraschweiss]

So far, all poops look normal. Nothing foamy or frothy. Most are solid, but there's the occasional soft brown pudding ones that usually happen after I've gotten the girls in panic by cleaning the brooder with them still in it.

Are worms an issue or am I getting overwhelmed with possiblities?

 

[casportpony]

So far, all poops look normal. Nothing foamy or frothy. Most are solid, but there's the occasional soft brown pudding ones that usually happen after I've gotten the girls in panic by cleaning the brooder with them still in it.

Are worms an issue or am I getting overwhelmed with possiblities?

Welcome to BYC!

Chickens do two types of poop, cecal poop, and regular poop. Read more about that here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/cecal-vs-regular-poop.75555/

At three weeks I don't think you need to be worried, especially if all are acting 100% healthy and are gaining weight.

When they get older you might want to think about having rountine fecals done and this should tell you what worms do have. Once you know what worms you have you can pick a de-wormer best suited to treat that type of worm.

This like has some very good information on the different types worms:
https://parasitipedia.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2655&Itemid=2933

 

[centrarchid]

The cecal and regular types of poop likely cover most of what is going on. If you are scaring the birds enough for them to produce regular poop where the water has not been reclaimed, then consider approaching and opening the coop in a manner that does not scare them so much. You may literally be scaring the crap out of them which can make them more difficult to handle later on.