Deworm your flock: why, how, when and with what | (2024)

So what's a backyard chicken owner to do? I did some research for you on deworming chickens and here are my best practices for my flock of 150 laying hens.

First of all, a disclaimer.None of the information or recommendations contained in this document should be construed as medical advice. Consult a veterinarian if you are experiencing ongoing illness or loss in your herd.Chickens are strange birds, often showing few or no symptoms until they become seriously ill. It's worth spending time building a client relationship with a veterinarian who can treat poultryForyou have an emergency.

Why deworm your flock

Chickens that are allowed to roam freely on the ground will undoubtedly be exposed to many different parasites. Roundworms, hookworms and tapeworms are most common in chickens. In reality, most backyard chickens probably walk around with a small amount of parasites every day. To be honest, most of us are probably unaware of what's really going on inside our chickens. Is it a problem? Maybe maybe not.

Chickens that live in stationary coops on the same plot year-round are likely to be more likely to develop parasitic infestations than chickens that are on a rotating grazing system or moved to clean land several times a year. Moving onto fresh soil breaks the life cycle of a parasite. My herd is in a permanent stable, so deworming is of greater importance.

There are a few main types of internal worms that can affect chickens; roundworms, yawworms, pinworms and tapeworms are the most common. A heavy worm burden can hinder a chicken's ability to absorb nutrients, thereby affecting her health and egg production. But most chickens can probably handle a light parasite load and not really jeopardize their health or production. It's definitely a bit of a pain for me to know that my chickens could have worms. And rarely have I heard of some people actually finding a roundworm in an egg. Bah!

When to deworm

For these reasons I deworm my entire flock twice a year in the fall during their molt and again in the spring. Before the fall worm, I take a stool sample to my vet. They can help me determine what types of worms I am dealing with and how heavy the flock should be.
Some may choose to consistently use natural preventatives instead. Otherwise, they only treat when they see problems developing, i.ebody condition of the chickenor in the feces.

How to deworm

I have a fairly large laying flock of usually around 150 hens. I find it easiest to use dewormers that I can put in their drinking water. With a large number of chickens it is virtually impossible to ensure that everyone receives an individual dose. With a dozen chickens it is not difficult to give an individual dose to each chicken, so paste-like dewormers are an option.

What to deworm with?

There are two main approaches to deworming chickens: all natural home remedies and products and over-the-counter products. Your vet (you've found one, haven't you?) will help you decide what's best for your flock, given your location, bird population, and other local factors that may play a role in your decision.

Chemical anthelmintics

I regularly deworm my poultry twice a year with varying products and the choice depends on the manure content. It is important to note that there are not many chemical anthelmintics labeled specifically for poultry. We have severalDewormersavailable on our website.

For tapeworms I use a fenbendazole product called Safeguard Aquasol.To determine the correct dose, calculate it based on the total estimated body weight (in kilograms) of the chicks you are treating. The formula is: Total estimated body weight [kg] x 0.005 ml = ml Safe-Guard AquaSol per day.

It is worth noting that the average chicken keeper will not use an entire container of Safe-Guard AquaSol in their lifetime due to the small amounts required. Some avian veterinarians may offer this product in smaller doses so you can buy only what you need.

Although some poultry farmers use other dewormers, these products may not contain specific dosage recommendations or information about egg withdrawal times for chickens.

My recommendation is to contact your localOffice of University Extensionfor their guidance and to perform a fecal exam to ensure you are targeting the right parasites. This approach helps minimize the risk of parasites developing resistance to the treatment.

Natural dewormers

I'm sure you've heard of all the great thingsdiatoméjordas a parasite killer for poultry. Diatomaceous earth can help with external parasites, but since diatomaceous earth loses its effectiveness when wet, its use as an anthelmintic for internal parasites is anecdotal at best. If you feel better feeding it internally to your flock, go for it. But be careful, as it can irritate the eyes and lungs of both birds and humans.

To feed your flockpumpkin and pumpkin seeds and meatis another popular dewormer that has many loyal followers. Since there is no scientific research on the effectiveness of pumpkin seeds, diatomaceous earth, wormwood or other natural home remedies, I personally do not rely on them to control worms in my flock. The pumpkins and pumpkins make great treats and help prevent my flock from becoming bored and developing bad behavior in the winter, but I use scientifically proven products to treat my flock for worms when necessary.

Tell us what you use?

I hope you find my rationale and best practices for deworming my flock useful in managing your flock. If you have any questions or advice for other readers that has proven helpful in deworming your flock, please message us and let us know.