Worming?

[cochicks]

Do chickens need regular worming? How often? How do I do it?

 

[TheReidHomestead]

This thread has some very good information. https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=213065


Use Wazine the first time you worm, as it is milder, and if they have a really bad infestation, they can go into shock if you use the stronger stuff. The wazine will nock the infestation down a few notches, then follow up with something stronger like Ivermectin or Eprinex. I don't know if that thread talks about Eprinex, but you can use the search bar in the upper right hand column to read more about it. The benifit of it over the Ivermectin is that there is no egg withdrawl from it. With ivermectin you don't want to eat the eggs for 2 wks or more after you treat the birds.

 

[Luvroos]

I've heard that raw pumpkin, I give to mine from a can this time of year, and oak coals will deworm them just as well if not better than most all medications in general. I'd prefer not to medicade mine for anything and would use these two methods long before I would anything else. It's worth it to try and healthier for them. I must also recommend they have yogurt, tspn cider vinegar to a gallon of water with a clove of garlic, this should help also!

 

[Illia]

Yep, natural treatments like Pumpkin Seeds are the best method. . . .

 

[chookadoo]

I just popped some garlic cloves in their water today and I'm hoping this works as i'd read it should do as a natural method.

 

[dawg53]

I recommend using Valbazen (albendazole.) It kills all known worms that chickens get including others that arnt shown in this link. http://www.healthybirds.umd.edu/Disease/Deworming Birds.pdf

 

[cochicks]

They don't actually have worms (that I know of). I just read that chickens should be wormed regularly. http://www.upc-online.org/chickens/propercare.htm So I was wondering, in a healthy flock, it is still necessary to worm? If so, how often?

 

[Luvroos]

If you use natural foods verses medications you would never need to deworm them with medications since you are also preventing them from getting worms with all foods described above ie: garlic, vinegar, pumpkin and seeds, oak coals. This depends on how often you give it to them also, daily, every few days or every so often. I try to give mine pumpkin at least twice a week or so and garlic each time I prepare them grub to eat which is once every two or three days.

 

[cochicks]

Great! I hate to use chemicals unless I absolutely have to. I will buy a can of pumpkin tomorrow! Can they taste apple cider vinegar?

 

[Luvroos]

They sure can and most likely will not like it so you might want to keep an eye on them to make sure they are drinking it.