As a chicken owner, it is important to keep your flock healthy and free of parasites. Knowing how to deworm chickens naturally, without harsh chemicals or medications, will give you more peace of mind about them.
We’ve had some mysterious chicken deaths on our farm. While we’ve never had a serious infestation, parasites can cause a lot of problems.
Worm infestations can be a common issue faced by many chicken owners. Worms can cause a wide range of health problems in chickens, including weight loss, decreased egg production, and even death.
Fortunately, there are natural ways to deworm chickens without using harsh chemicals or medications.
Apple cider vinegar is one such deworming method.
Adding a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to each gallon of chicken water can help control worm populations. Another option is to use food-grade diatomaceous earth mixed with chicken feed.
This powder contains microscopic fossils that can damage the exoskeletons of parasites, causing them to dehydrate and die.
Other natural deworming methods include feeding chickens pumpkin seeds, garlic, and nasturtiums. Each of these foods contains properties that can help control worm populations.
By incorporating natural deworming methods into your chicken care routine, you can help keep your flock healthy and thriving.
Why Deworming Chickens is Important
Keeping chickens healthy is important for any backyard poultry keeper. One of the most important aspects of chicken health is to regularly deworm them.
Chickens can get worms from a variety of sources, including soil, feed, and water. Worms can also be spread from chicken to chicken, making it important to keep your entire flock dewormed.
Regular deworming can prevent worms from taking hold of your chickens and causing serious health problems. Many natural methods of deworming are effective and safe for your chickens.
By using natural deworming methods, you can avoid using harsh chemicals that can harm your chickens, plus also allow you to still eat the eggs.
No need to wait for the chemicals to fade in the food that you are eating.
Signs of Worms In Chickens
Some signs that your chickens may have worms include decreased appetite, weight loss, and diarrhea.
If your hen has a pale comb (or is it frostbite?), weepy eyes, no appetite, and huddles up quietly on its own, there is a good chance it has parasites. Another sign of worms in chickens is bloodstained poop.
If your chicken is looking unwell, it is important to deworm your whole flock as soon as possible to prevent further health problems and severe infestation.
Proper hygiene goes a long way, but there are times when you will add chickens to your flock. This can be an entryway for parasites if they come from an infested flock.
Natural Deworming Methods
While diatomaceous earth and apple cider vinegar can be effective against parasites, there are other means of parasite control. Prevention is usually the best cure.
By adding one or more of these natural anti-parasitics to your chickens’ diet, you can prevent and kill parasites as they arrive. Not only are these helpful to naturally deworm chickens, they are also healthy for them.
Garlic
Garlic is a natural dewormer for chickens. It contains allicin, which has antimicrobial and antiparasitic properties. Feeding garlic to your chickens can help prevent and treat parasitic infestations.
You can add garlic to their feed or give them garlic water. To make garlic water, crush a few cloves of garlic and add them to a gallon of water. Let it sit for a few hours before giving it to your chickens.
Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkin seeds are another natural dewormer for chickens. They contain an amino acid called cucurbitacin, which paralyzes and eliminates worms from the chicken’s digestive system.
You can feed your chickens raw or roasted pumpkin seeds. They will be excited about this treat.
Crush them and mix them with their feed or give them as a treat. Make sure to use unsalted and unflavored pumpkin seeds.
Cayenne Pepper
Adding powdered cayenne pepper to chicken feed can also help keep worms from taking hold on their digestive tract. Add a cup of pepper to 25 pounds of feed.
Chickens don’t mind the spiciness, but rodents do. It makes chicken feed less appealing to them. Another benefit of cayenne pepper is that it can help your chickens lay more, heavier eggs.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is another natural dewormer for chickens. It contains acetic acid, which creates an acidic environment in the chicken’s digestive system.
This environment is unfriendly to worms, making it difficult for them to survive. You can add apple cider vinegar to your chicken’s water or feed.
Use one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar per gallon of water. Even baby chicks can be fed apple cider vinegar water.
Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth is a natural dewormer for chickens. It is a fine powder made from the fossilized remains of diatoms.
When ingested, diatomaceous earth dehydrates and kills worms in the chicken’s digestive system.
Make sure to use food-grade diatomaceous earth. You can mix it with their feed or sprinkle it in their coop and nesting boxes.
Prevention Tips
Preventing worms in chickens is always better than treating them. Here are some tips to help prevent worms in your flock:
- Practice good coop hygiene by cleaning and disinfecting regularly.
- Provide clean, fresh water daily. Adding apple cider vinegar to the water can help maintain an acidic environment in the chicken’s digestive tract, making it less hospitable to parasites.
- Keep the chicken’s environment clean and dry. Wet and dirty conditions can attract parasites and increase the likelihood of worms.
- Rotate pastures regularly to prevent the buildup of parasites in the soil.
- Add natural dewormers to your chicken’s diet, such as garlic, pumpkin seeds, and cayenne pepper.
By following these prevention tips, you can help keep your chickens healthy and worm-free.
Deworming your chickens is an important part of keeping them healthy and productive.
While there are synthetic dewormers available on the market, natural dewormers can be just as effective and safer for your birds. Natural methods of deworming chickens are healthier for them, as well as for you, the consumer.
It is important to note that natural deworming methods may take longer to show results than synthetic dewormers.
If you suspect your flock is struggling with a severe infestation, synthetic dewormers have a time and a place. If you are unsure, contact your local vet.
Remember that prevention is key when it comes to deworming your chickens.
By keeping your coop clean and dry, and optimizing your birds’ gut health, you can help prevent worm infestations from occurring in the first place.
Deworming chickens naturally is a safe and effective way to keep your chickens healthy and productive.
By implementing these methods and staying vigilant about your birds’ health, you can help ensure that your flock stays happy and healthy for years to come.
What methods have you found to be most effective when deworming chickens naturally? Let me know in the comments below.