Tim
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This FAQ provides some information about Worming Chickens
As with other animals, it is necessary to worm chickens regularly to prevent many health problems.
If you manage their house and run correctly, changing bedding and cleaning / providing fresh pasture for them this will help however even free range birds will need worming.
Worms cause damage to the digestive system of your birds which can sometimes lead to death. Products that are used to treat worms are not cheap but are necessary to prevent sick birds with increased food consumption, and fewer eggs.
Here is what you can do to help them:
Wormers / products that are used:
Dosage information for these products should be available from your vet or on the product box / leaflet.
Remember if you treat birds once this may well kill all of the worms and eggs but you do need to have an ongoing treatment plan if there is a heavy worm load. Eggs that are picked up by the birds when feeding hatch later and a repeat treatment is required to continue to reduce the worm count.
The diagrams in this article on Worming Chickens explain this well.
Further Information
- Article on Worming Chickens provides more information about worms in poultry.
As with other animals, it is necessary to worm chickens regularly to prevent many health problems.
If you manage their house and run correctly, changing bedding and cleaning / providing fresh pasture for them this will help however even free range birds will need worming.
Worms cause damage to the digestive system of your birds which can sometimes lead to death. Products that are used to treat worms are not cheap but are necessary to prevent sick birds with increased food consumption, and fewer eggs.
Here is what you can do to help them:
- Keep them clean and do not feed corn / scratch feeds in the litter if there are droppings in it.
- Rest land periodically if you can to prevent a build up of worms.
- Keep grass short, this allows the UV from sunlight to kill worm eggs (as well as preventing sour crop).
- Use Apple Cider Vinegar regularly to lower the pH level in the stomach, making the gut slightly acidic, helping digestion and making it less friendly for worms.
Wormers / products that are used:
- The only wormer tested and approved for use in chickens feed in the UK is Flubenvet .
- Other Wormers that are sometimes prescribed by vets are Panacur and Ivermectin. These must be prescribed by your vet under what is called the 'cascade' as they are not licensed for chickens. Often there will be a withdrawal period for eggs as advised by your vet.
- Verm-X is a product made from 100% natural ingredients. As a herbal product, this cannot be marketed as a wormer. There is controversy over the efficacy of Verm-X and any studies / trials performed by the manufacturer cannot be published. Some of the latest Verm-X packs are sold with a worm testing kit which is ultimately the best way to check to see if birds even need treating.
- Diatom or Diatomaceous Earth / DE may help to prevent a build up of worms if fed to your birds. It also has many other uses like controlling red mites and lice so is very useful to have in stock.
Dosage information for these products should be available from your vet or on the product box / leaflet.
Remember if you treat birds once this may well kill all of the worms and eggs but you do need to have an ongoing treatment plan if there is a heavy worm load. Eggs that are picked up by the birds when feeding hatch later and a repeat treatment is required to continue to reduce the worm count.
The diagrams in this article on Worming Chickens explain this well.
Further Information
- Article on Worming Chickens provides more information about worms in poultry.