worming chickens

[mmaddie's mom]

Did I miss something? What is DE?

 

[TiaView]

Dawg53 I don't want to try to convince you that my way is right or wrong because I find that unless you've seen the results you will continue to use what you want. And that is fine. Each to their own. But I do believe that you are right as far as vets not prescribing holistic meds/treatments because they are not trained in these areas unless they specialize. They also should not be giving nutritional advice IMHO unless they specialize for the same reason...they get their basic nutritional training from the Iams Co. /Hills (Science Diet) and that's why you can purchase those foods at any vet anywhere in the Country (unless they specialize in nutrition). I have good friends and family members that are vets that readily admit to this.
I put about 1/2 cup of vinegar in my chickens 5 gallon bucket (and also rinse them after a bath in it) for health. But you can add as little as you want, or a bit more and it won't hurt them.

 

[TiaView]

DE is diatomaceous earth. It is an absorbant that when used in the intestinal tract can absorb and remove overload of bacteria and bugs (worms). Wolf River Ranch has some great advice for using it with dogs. Make sure that you use the HUMAN/ FOR consumption grade, NOT the pool grade.

 

[kathyinmo]

(nonpasturized, nondistilled, organic) Apple Cider Vinegar ...
I use 1 tablespoon per gallon of water.

DE .... I would not trust it for an infestation at all. It is good as a preventative, but not as a treatment.

 

[schellie69]

I like natural remedies also but when dealing with a very large worm infestation I want to make sure that I kill the worms fast. I did the wazine followed 10 days later by the safeguard paste. It was so easy a pea size of safeguard on a piece of bread for each chicken. I have noticed no more worms and have seen that the chickens gaining weight so I feel that I made the right choice. I am using ACV and DE now to help prevent more worms and to help with mites and flees. I am not sure how DE works as a de-worming method. I would not know how much DE to put into their food anyone have any idea how much DE would you put into the chickens and dogs food. Yes I have missed the eggs for almost a month but its worth it for the health of my girls.

 

[dawg53]

I concur with kathyinmo, shellie69 and TiaView. I always use ACV in my chickens' water as well. There are several BYC'ers on here who WERE diehard DE users, convinced that DE would take care of worms til they cracked open an egg and found a roundworm in their egg! LOL. It happens.

 

[revolutionmama]

Quote:
I just wanted to add on the DE -
DE is obtained from deposits of diatomite which are the fossilized sedimentary layers of tiny phytoplankton called diatoms. DE is a form of
amorphous silica that can kill insects by desiccation, by absorbing the oily or waxy cuticle
layer by direct contact. When the thin, waterproof layer is lost, the insect looses water
and dies. In addition to its desiccant action, DE works abrasively to rupture insect
cuticles.
Dusting with DE is also a alternative for Northern
Fowl Mites in which their life cycle is 5-7 days, so repeated treatments may be necessary to eliminate a
large infestation.