This article describes common worms that infect chickens, the symptoms of worms, how you can reduce the worm burden by worming chickens and what products you can use and how often. Most of this information is common to all poultry, but I talk mostly about chickens for simplicity. A separate …
If you don’t want to use a chemical wormer on your hens or would like the reassurance that a herbal product is working then the Westgate Labs Worm Count Kit could be the answer! Keeping chickens on the same ground for a number of years can cause a build up …
A range of parasitic worms are frequently found in backyard chickens and over the years, I have always been a strong advocate of having a regular worming regime to ensure they don’t take a hold. The damage caused by some species of worm can be significant, so to write an …
The preferred wormer for chickens is Flubenvet. It kills all worms, including tape worm. This is currently the only licensed in-feed wormer on the market. As I write this (August 2015), the 60g packs of Flubenvet have been out of stock for a couple of months and we have been inundated …
Worming is one of those healthcare routines that, unless you are very organised, can sometimes be tackled in a bit of an ad hoc way. But not only can this open the door to disease, it’s also an inefficient way to worm poultry. We are often asked how often to …
We all look forward to spring (I know I certainly do!) More light, more eggs and the best time for fertility and breeding but lets face it, even the local Sparrow population is laying during the spring, so your hens should be laying now (earning their keep I say), as …
The backyard poultry market is growing rapidly but many novice poultry owners are unaware of simple preventative health routines that can significantly improve the health and wellbeing of their birds. Worms are not always visible and infection can be asymptomatic but worms can also affect egg quality and yield – …
By far the most common reason for a goose (or a duck) to go off its legs is when it is carrying lots of worms. Gizzard worm is the biggest problem for geese and can be fatal unless treated early, especially where goslings are concerned.
Ducks can carry worms, just like other poultry. Worming ducks (or de-worming as I think the correct term is) is not difficult using a suitable product and usually simply involves mixing in a given quantity with their normal food ration. Many health problems can be avoided by worming twice a year. …
Ivermectin is an anti-parasite medication, effective against most worms (not tapeworm), mites and some lice including scaly leg mite and northern fowl mite. Ivermectin pour-on / drops is applied to the skin. Ivermectin Drops are usually sold under the Small Animal Exemption Scheme for use in rabbits, Guinea Pigs and …
Flubenvet 2.5% poultry wormer is a medicated feed supplement commonly used to worm chickens, turkeys and geese. It is not licensed for use with ducks although many people do use it. Our page on worming chickens and other poultry provides lots of information about worms and worming and there is …
Over the past few years awareness of roundworms and gapeworms in backyard poultry has increased dramatically with owners either routinely worming with Flubenvet, or using treatment in response to routine worm egg counts to successfully control worms in their backyard flocks. However we are frequently contacted by owners asking about both tapeworms and …
Large Roundworm or Ascarida Galli worms are 5 to 8cm long and live in the middle part of a bird’s intestine. Bad infestations of large roundworms in poultry usually occur when birds are kept in intensive conditions on dirty litter or in runs that have been used for many years. Large …
Gizzard Worm or Amidostomum Anseris are thin worms about 2cm long that predominantly affect geese. Infestations occurs directly by birds eating eggs that have been passed out in droppings so are most likely to occur when geese are kept on the same pasture.
Hairworms or Capillara are incredibly thin, almost as thin as a hair which is where they get their name from. They are 1 to 2cm long and even in moderate infestations can cause significant damage to chickens. There are several species of Capillaria worm but they all live in the upper part of the digestive system, that …
There are many different species of tapeworm that affect poultry although they are not often found and thankfully, most of them are completely harmless. Large numbers can cause weight loss and a reduction in laying. Tapeworms or Cestodes vary in length, some are 4 to 5 mm long and others are up to 25cm long! …
Gapeworms (Syngamus trachea) are included under ‘respiratory system’ since the adult worms reside in the trachea (or windpipe) and often produce a gurgling or ‘tracheal rattle’ that can be confused with respiratory problems. Gapeworm is common in pheasants but also affects chickens, guinea fowl and turkeys. Gapeworms can cause considerable losses in …
