Worming med for younger chickens?

[Sylverfly]

My chicks are about 11 weeks old and I'm just not happy with their body condition. They have lots of feed the stuff I give and the stuff that grows and crawls outside, and they never have an empty feeder. But many are thin they look healthy but when you pick some of them up you can feel their sharp breast bone. I don't think they are sick they eat, drink, and do normal chicken stuff, no signs of illness in them. So I'm concluding that they are either just growing too fast building their frame and will fill out later (they are standard Cochin) or they need to be wormed which I want to try since it probably won't hurt them even if they don't have worms. So what is a good dewormer for 11 week old standard Cochin, I've heard Cochin tend to reach point of lay rather late compared to many other chickens so I probably won't have to worry about meds in the eggs if I worm them at 12 weeks or sooner right? So to recap I'm looking for a "safe" wormer for a flock of standard Cochin and a few bantam Cochin for 11-12 week old chickens thanks.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

If they are less than 18 weeks of age it is not generally recommended to worm them unless they really need it because they are still developing their organs, I have read on BYC. Some vets will do a fecal float for a small fee (false negatives are possible).

I recommend waiting if they seem healthy otherwise at that age. Teenage chickens DO feel thin at the keel. They can feel thin, but fill out soon.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keel_(bird)

Now if you were talking about a layer that was losing weight, I'd think possible worms.

http://healthybirds.umd.edu/Disease/Deworming Birds.pdf
http://animalscience.ucdavis.edu/phi/PHI/ROUNDWORMS PHI Handout from Dr. Smith.pdf

 

[jak2002003]

Is it always necessary to de worm chickens? I just ask because I have never wormed my birds and they are over 5 years old and all in good health and laying lots of eggs.

 

[bobbi-j]

Is it always necessary to de worm chickens? I just ask because I have never wormed my birds and they are over 5 years old and all in good health and laying lots of eggs.

No, there are alot of people (myself included) who don't worm their chickens and have never had a problem. Sometime, when you have LOTS of time, go to the Old Timers' thread and see what they have to say.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Is it always necessary to de worm chickens? I just ask because I have never wormed my birds and they are over 5 years old and all in good health and laying lots of eggs.

I wouldn't worm my chickens if I didn't have to. I found a worm in an egg once (and my DH wouldn't eat the eggs for a very long time). Also my chickens were ill from the worms. Now I worm every 6 months.

 

[twentynine]

Been at the chicken raising stuff for almost 30 years. Never wormed a chicken.

 

[jak2002003]

I think a lot of the time vets and animal businesses frighten us into buying their products and making us out to not care about our animals if we don't 'do the right thing'.

I would only treat my pets if they were sick or I find something that could be a potential problem - like seeing worms in the poop.

I understand the need for vaccines and injection for many animals like dogs and cats, but even with them I an doubtful if giving booster injections every few months for year on end is necessary.

These companies for medicines and treatments for animals are not a charity and they need to make money....so I always think long and hard before using a medicine or vitamins etc.

 

[SIMZ]

I agree that that's normal for chickens that age. They tend to look fluffy, but are just skinny little things under all those feathers. Just last night I picked up an escaped Buff Orpington pullet (12 weeks) and marveled at how bony, skinny, and light she is, even though she looks so big!