Worming Chickens?

[Chicks Galore3]

I've never wormed my chickens before and am wondering if I should. What are signs of worms?

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Take a fresh fecal sample to your vet and have them look for worms is the best way.

Another sign of worms is skinnier chickens and ratty feathers, as well as worm segments or whole worms in the poop or in eggs. That would be an advanced infestation.

Or, you can worm on a preventative schedule and do it once or twice a year. If you do this, try to rotate active ingredients so the parasites don't become acclimated to any one active ingredient. We worm twice a year, using Ivomec during the fall moult (there aren't so many eggs to throw away) and Eprinex during the spring moult (no egg withholding). We worm our dogs and horses and goats on a schedule, so we put the hens on a schedule, too.

 

[Chicks Galore3]

I was wondering because some of my hens' feathers look a little ratty and a couple have lost weight. they are still active/eating/drinking/laying

 

[Chicks Galore3]

This is the only poultry wormer I could find. Does this look ok? http://www.fleetfarm.com/detail/wazine-17-poultry-wormer/0000000070006

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Wazine doesn't take care of as many parasites as some of the others. The two I mentioned, Ivomec and Eprinex, are pour-on cattle dewormers, not labeled for poultry.

I would take a fecal sample to your vet and see what you're dealing with, personally. Then you can choose an active ingredient based on what you've actually got. I use the pour-ons because they kill both internal and external parasites, and are very broad-spectrum.

 

[Chicks Galore3]

How much do you use for the chickens?

 

[Chicks Galore3]

I found one that has both Ivomec and Eprinex in it. Is it ok that it has both in it?

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Ivomec and Eprinex are trade names, not active ingredients, but I know that the Eprinex says "Ivomec Eprinex" on the bottle, so I can see how you would be confused. Ivomec by itself is MUCH less expensive, and is Ivermectin as an active ingredient. Eprinex is eprinomectin. Merial makes both products (and it also makes Frontline for dogs).

The one that says Eprinex on the bottle is the one that doesn't have any withholding time, the one that just says Ivomec you should discard eggs for two weeks (which is why I do that one during the heavy fall moult when I don't have so many eggs anyway.)

You use .5 cc of either, with half of it placed on the skin at the neck and half placed on the skin in front of the tail. That's for a large fowl type bird. For bantams, use .25 cc. You just buy the syringe when you buy the dewormer. You don't need a needle--buy a syringe with a luer tip.

http://us.merial.com/producers/cow_calf/products/cowcalf_ivomec_eprinex.asp
http://us.merial.com/producers/cow_calf/products/cowcalf_ivomec_pouron.asp

 

[Chicks Galore3]

I ordered some Exprinomectin online. (I couldn't find anything near me.) The reviews on the product said it worked wonderfully on chickens. It is a pour on, people said 4 drops for smaller chickens and 6 for large chickens. How to I apply it? Drip it on and leave it, or rub it in or something?

 

[crooked stripe]

I heard from the farmer up the street to give them a pumpkin a few times a year. I have done this for 4 years now and no worms. Matter of fact the small feed store offers free pumpkins in the fall. Maybe Iam just lucky. I am a clean nut though.