Worms...AGAIN. Please help...I dont know what I can use now!

[Alas]

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I've been using DE for the last 2 years. Still got worms and mites

 

[ReikiStar]

I would also suggest crushing up garlic and putting it in their water or garlic powder in their feed. Also, cayenne pepper helps with worms.

The problem with using DE internally is it only works when its dry. DE works by it's structure (sharp little angles) which are softened and rendered useless when wet. Last time I checked, the inside of a chicken is pretty moist.

 

[roz]

Thank you everyone for all of the information! I really appreciate it! The golden comet that was looking sickly today was actually spunky again this afternoon which is good, but I know I still have a problem since I saw the worms in the poop. The only thing I was able to find at the feed store was ivermectin paste, not a pour on, although I do remember seeing a safeguard product, or something with fenbenazole (I'm not sure I got that chemical right). The lady who runs the feed store called a friend who has years of experience with chickens and said the ivermectin paste was really strong and wouldnt be good for the chicken, so I got nervous and didnt give it to them. I sprinkled DE all over the run and coop when we got back, and gave them food with probios added. Believe it or not, our problem started when we started "free ranging" them in a chicken tractor a month and a half ago. We have a bunch of black birds that congregate in our yard every day, and the woman mentioned that they are probably bringing in the parasite. We had stopped letting them out on grass when the one chicken got sick the first time, but when she was better, we put them back out on the grass, and now they have worms again. Does this mean i can never let them out to graze? I'm pretty sure they have roundworm...that is what our golden comet expelled the first time around. I still dont know what I'm confortable doing though. Everyone has different opinions on what to do/use, and I want to use the right thing. I like the idea of the wormer that kills them over a few days, but I'm not sure what I should do now that they've had access to the wazine now. It is a really hot day here (low 90s) so they're drinking a good amount of water, but worming in the heat (from what I've read) is not good either. I have a dog crate all ready for the sick one to bring her in, but we have a/c, and I put the temp to 80 inside, but I'm afraid of shocking her body with the extreme temps.

 

[chickengrl]

I would go with the valbazen as Dawg suggested. He has a great deal of studied research behind his suggestion. It is very safe and kills all the worms your chickens may get. I would not waste time on natural measures at this time since they have already proven ineffective for you. I would just order it online since you will probably not find it at your local farm store. The worms are present in the soil and would likely be there whether you had a group of blackbirds come through or not. Good luck with your de-worming!

 

[Echobabe]

Everyone here is correct about the Piperazine (Wazine)" it isn't very effective in that it only treats round worms. I see no reason to use it at all.

<<<Have you tried using diatomaceous earth? A lot of people use it to de-worm their chickens. It can be put in their feed (2-3 tablespoons per day) and will get rid of the worms. I>>>

This is a good practice to keep parasites down in the coop. It may even treat some of the intestinal worms. But it will not kill gapeworm or protozoa (like giardia). Nor will it resolve an established roundworm outbreak. You still need to use a chemical wormer 2x yearly in addition to DE.

 

[dawg53]

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DE isnt a wormer.

 

[GhostRider65]

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DE works wet or dry, the water does not break down the crystal fossils, they are the same cut you to pieces shape either way, I have used it for years and have never had a worm problem with my animals, horses dogs cats and now chickens since March. I also use Wormwood ground and added to treats or food 2 txs a year for 6 weeks. you can also grow it in your yard and let the chicks munch the leaves as needed. Garlic will also help 5 squished bulbs in a gallon waterer, refilled daily as needed with water and the garlic refreshed each day, can also put fresh ground garlic and add it to maybe some scrambled eggs or cottage cheese. I also recommend Organic ACV in there water daily keeps the gut flora healthy, and acidic, worms don't do well in acidic environment.

 

[Echobabe]

I went into poultry keeping with the idea of being totally organic, free range and as being as close to nature as possible. I liberally used DE and ACV, believing it would solve all my parasite problems. I hadn't seen a louse, a mite or a worm in 4 years.

Then my favorite hen got deathly ill during molt last winter. A trip into the vet told me she had protozoan parasites. The fecal sent to MSU came back showing gapeworm infestation. I had to become educated about wormers and other "zole" type meds quick in order to save her life. It was a month long ordeal of hand feeding an underweight, depressed bird. When I readded her to the flock she had to fight for position again--another bloody mess where I had to doctor both hens. Just last weekend she died from peritonitis from a reproductive issue. I am sure her weakend system from last winter's illness was part and parcel to what ended her--it certainly didn't help.

So please don't even try to tell me that DE and ACV or garlic is a miracle cure for worms. You're barking the wrong way up this experience tree!

 

[Judy]

Valbazen is the only wormer that gets all worms, and it is safe to use without first giving another one such as piperazine.

 

[roz]

I have been putting garlic and acv in water each day. Also shredded carrots with garlic powder. that didn't keep my chickens from getting reinfested with worms. I used piperazine in the water yesterday because that is the only thing I had. If I end up needing to use the valbazen, how long should I wait before using it?