Worms in chicken poop...

[Chiccenlover]

I noticed today that one of my chickens has worms in her poop so I need to deworm them. What's the best dewormer (my option is Tractor Supply) or a natural dewormer? If possible, we would still like to consume their eggs during their treatment time as they're laying great right now. Thank you!

 

[dawg53]

Natural wormers wont get rid of worms.
You can purchase Safeguard liquid goat wormer which is given orally using a syringe without a needle. Dosage is 0.25ml per pound of weight given 5 days straight to each chicken.

Or you can purchase Valbazen liquid cattle/sheep wormer (my preference.)
Dosage is 0.08ml per pound or 1/2ml for a 4-6lb chicken orally using a syringe without a needle. Then repeat again in 10 days.

We eat the eggs after using either wormer. Both are Benzimidazoles which are poorly absorbed into the bloodstream and mostly excreted.
There is minute residue in the eggs.
However, if you believe that you or a family member might have a reaction to the residue, toss the eggs in the garbage for 2 weeks after the last dosng.

 

[Chiccenlover]

Thank you

Natural wormers wont get rid of worms.
You can purchase Safeguard liquid goat wormer which is given orally using a syringe without a needle. Dosage is 0.25ml per pound of weight given 5 days straight to each chicken.

Or you can purchase Valbazen liquid cattle/sheep wormer (my preference.)
Dosage is 0.08ml per pound or 1/2ml for a 4-6lb chicken orally using a syringe without a needle. Then repeat again in 10 days.

Thank you so much! We’re going to treat our entire flock (31 chickens) bc we don’t know which chicken(s) have it. Can we put the Valbazen liquid cattle/sheep wormer in their water? If so, how much? Thanks again for all your help!

 

[dawg53]

I dont recommend putting wormers in water. You dont know if each bird will drink the treated water or drink enough of it to be effective. Sick wormy birds wont drink at all.

There's nothing saying that you have to worm all your birds at once.
You can worm half of them one day, the other half the next day.
OR, you can worm them by breed, for example; RIR's, BR's, Orpingtons the first day.
EE's, Sex Links and mixes the second day. Do the same when you reworm them in 10 days.
OR you can worm them by coop(s.)

It's best to go out to the coop early in the morning when it's still dark. The birds will be easier to snatch off the roost in order to administer the wormer. Also, they will have empty crops and stomachs. The birds will be hungry and so will the worms.
The worms will be at their weakest and the wormer will be very effective eliminating them.

Bring a flashlight with you. Preload your syringe. Grab a hen off the roost and cradle her in your forearm. With your hand, use your fingers and thumb to pull down on her wattles and her mouth will open. If she shakes her head, hang on and she will tire out.
With your free hand, grab the preloaded syringe and quickly squirt the liquid in her mouth and immediately let go of her wattles so she can swallow the liquid. If you dont immediately let go of the wattles, she could aspirate and you dont want that to happen.
Use no more than 1/2ml of the liquid wormer at a time in the syringe when administering the wormer. Too much liquid and she could aspirate.

Then release her and grab the next chicken off the roost and repeat until they are all wormed.
Practice doing this procedure without actually worming them, a dry run so to speak until you get used to it. Then when you're ready, you'll be confident about it and it'll go easier for you and wont take too much time at all to worm all your birds. Practice makes perfect.
The bottom line is that you'll know each bird got properly wormed, no questions about it.
You could even have someone hold the bird for you if they're willing to get up early with you.
Dont forget to reworm them in 10 days, same procedure.

 

[Chiccenlover]

Thank you

Thank you so much! We’re going to treat our entire flock (31 chickens) bc we don’t know which chicken(s) have it. Can we put the Valbazen liquid cattle/sheep wormer in their water? If so, how much? Thanks again for all your help!

I just picked up the Safeguard wormer (TS was out of the Valbazen.) I really appreciate all your help! I will start the process tomorrow morn.

 

[Coffetym]

I know you have already made a choice, & some may disagree with this option. However, do some research on diatomaceous earth, or more commonly known as D earth. I recommend it, & my two daughters & myself have used it personally. It has multiple benefits & will not affect you being able to consume anything from your birds. It can be sprinkled in their food or if you have a grit box just add it to that or in the crushed oyster shells. You will find a lot of variations of this & some is labeled as food grade. Don’t be fooled by this. It’s all the same thing, bagged & prepared in the same manner. I purchased some from a local feed & seed store. It was, I believe a 40 lb. bag for about $25 & it will keep & last forever.

 

[dawg53]

Diatomeceous Earth will NOT prevent nor treat worms. It WILL empty your purse or wallet with nothing in return. Been there, done that many years ago.

 

[Antiocheggers]

I dont recommend putting wormers in water. You dont know if each bird will drink the treated water or drink enough of it to be effective. Sick wormy birds wont drink at all.

There's nothing saying that you have to worm all your birds at once.
You can worm half of them one day, the other half the next day.
OR, you can worm them by breed, for example; RIR's, BR's, Orpingtons the first day.
EE's, Sex Links and mixes the second day. Do the same when you reworm them in 10 days.
OR you can worm them by coop(s.)

It's best to go out to the coop early in the morning when it's still dark. The birds will be easier to snatch off the roost in order to administer the wormer. Also, they will have empty crops and stomachs. The birds will be hungry and so will the worms.
The worms will be at their weakest and the wormer will be very effective eliminating them.

Bring a flashlight with you. Preload your syringe. Grab a hen off the roost and cradle her in your forearm. With your hand, use your fingers and thumb to pull down on her wattles and her mouth will open. If she shakes her head, hang on and she will tire out.
With your free hand, grab the preloaded syringe and quickly squirt the liquid in her mouth and immediately let go of her wattles so she can swallow the liquid. If you dont immediately let go of the wattles, she could aspirate and you dont want that to happen.
Use no more than 1/2ml of the liquid wormer at a time in the syringe when administering the wormer. Too much liquid and she could aspirate.

Then release her and grab the next chicken off the roost and repeat until they are all wormed.
Practice doing this procedure without actually worming them, a dry run so to speak until you get used to it. Then when you're ready, you'll be confident about it and it'll go easier for you and wont take too much time at all to worm all your birds. Practice makes perfect.
The bottom line is that you'll know each bird got properly wormed, no questions about it.
You could even have someone hold the bird for you if they're willing to get up early with you.
Dont forget to reworm them in 10 days, same procedure.

Thanks for the information but how do I know they have worms? 24 chicken and I'm inspecting for worms

Diatomeceous Earth will NOT prevent nor treat worms. It WILL empty your purse or wallet with nothing in return. Been there, done that many years ago.

What about sand fleas? If not what does

 

[dawg53]

Thanks for the information but how do I know they have worms? 24 chicken and I'm inspecting for worms

What about sand fleas? If not what does

You can gather up fecal samples and mix them up in a ziplock bag. Then take it to a vet and have them look under a microscope for worm eggs on the slide. They should be able to tell what types of worms your birds have. It shouldnt cost much at all.

You can use Permethrin liquid concentrate to spray your birds.

 

[Antiocheggers]

Thank you for the information.

You can gather up fecal samples and mix them up in a ziplock bag. Then take it to a vet and have them look under a microscope for worm eggs on the slide. They should be able to tell what types of worms your birds have. It shouldnt cost much at all.

You can use Permethrin liquid concentrate to spray your birds.