How to Deworm Chickens Naturally
Learn the signs of worms in chickens, how chickens get internal parasites, five natural flock-care methods I use, and when your chicken may need an effective poultry dewormer.
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5 Common Worms in Chickens
Chickens can be affected by several types of internal parasites. Knowing the major types can help you understand the symptoms you are seeing and what type of testing may be helpful.
Roundworms
One of the more common intestinal worms found in backyard chickens. Adult worms may occasionally be visible in droppings.
Cecal Worms
Small worms that live primarily in a chicken’s ceca. They may be present even when you don’t see worms in normal droppings.
Capillary Worms
Thin, hairlike worms that may affect different areas of a chicken’s digestive tract.
Tapeworms
Segmented parasites that may be spread when chickens consume infected intermediate hosts.
Gapeworms
Worms that attach inside the respiratory tract and may interfere with normal breathing.
Signs Your Chicken May Have Worms
Internal parasites can affect chickens in different ways, and many symptoms overlap with other chicken health problems.
Appearance & Body Condition
- Pale comb or wattles
- Unexplained weight loss
- Loss of body condition
- Dirty feathers around the vent
- Poor feather condition
Energy & Behavior
- Lack of energy
- Listless behavior
- Separating from the flock
- Reduced activity
- Changes in appetite
Droppings & Digestive Changes
- Ongoing diarrhea
- Foamy or unusually abnormal droppings
- Visible worms in droppings
- Visible tapeworm segments
Breathing & Egg Production
- Gasping
- Repeated neck stretching
- Reduced egg production
- Declining overall condition
Can You See Worms in Chicken Poop?
Sometimes you can see evidence of worms in chicken droppings, but many internal parasites are difficult or impossible to identify without testing.
What You May Notice
- Long, pale worms that may resemble thin spaghetti.
- Small tapeworm segments in or around fresh droppings.
- Persistent abnormal droppings along with other signs of poor health.
- No visible worms at all even when internal parasites are present.
Not Seeing Worms Doesn’t Rule Them Out
Some parasites are too small to easily see, live in areas where they aren’t routinely visible, or simply don’t appear in every dropping.
How to Check Your Chicken for Worms
I make observation part of my regular flock-care routine. The earlier you notice something has changed, the sooner you can investigate.
- Check the droppings. Look for diarrhea, unusual consistency, visible worms or segments.
- Check body condition. Feel whether your chicken seems unusually thin or is losing weight.
- Look at the comb and wattles. Pay attention to unusual paleness.
- Watch behavior. Notice hens that become lethargic, withdrawn or less active.
- Pay attention to breathing. Gasping or repeated neck stretching deserves attention.
- Consider a fecal test. Testing can help determine whether internal parasites are actually present.
How Do Chickens Get Worms?
Chickens naturally scratch and peck through their environment. That behavior can expose them to parasite eggs and intermediate hosts.
- Contaminated droppings
- Contaminated soil
- Heavily soiled bedding
- Intermediate hosts such as certain insects or earthworms
- New chickens entering the flock
- Crowded or manure-heavy conditions
A Common Reinfection Cycle
Parasite eggs can pass into the environment through droppings. Chickens may later encounter them while scratching, pecking, eating or drinking.
Why Do Chicken Worms Keep Coming Back?
Treating a chicken does not automatically remove parasite eggs, environmental contamination or intermediate hosts.
Common Reasons Reinfection Can Occur
- Droppings remain in heavily used areas
- Wet or contaminated bedding isn’t replaced
- Feed becomes contaminated
- Drinking water becomes contaminated
- Chickens continue using heavily contaminated ground
- Intermediate hosts remain in the environment
- New birds introduce parasites into the flock
5 Natural Flock-Care Methods for Chickens
These natural options are commonly discussed by backyard chicken keepers. I use natural foods and good management as part of my overall flock-care routine, while separating supportive care from treatment of a confirmed worm infestation.
These methods are best viewed as supportive flock care. If your chicken has a confirmed or serious worm infestation, appropriate treatment may still be necessary.
Apple Cider Vinegar for Chickens
Apple cider vinegar, commonly called ACV, is sometimes added to chickens’ drinking water as part of a natural flock-care routine.
Its acidity temporarily changes the drinking water, and many backyard chicken keepers include ACV as part of their regular flock-management routine.
Does Apple Cider Vinegar Deworm Chickens?
Apple cider vinegar has not been shown to reliably eliminate an active worm infestation.
I consider it supportive flock care rather than a substitute for fecal testing or an appropriate poultry dewormer when worms are confirmed.
How I Offer Apple Cider Vinegar
ACV Tips
- Use a plastic or other acid-safe waterer.
- Do not use ACV in galvanized metal waterers.
- Offer it occasionally rather than relying on it as medication.
- Make sure your chickens continue drinking normally.
- Keep fresh drinking water readily available.
Pumpkin Seeds for Chickens
Pumpkin seeds are one of the natural foods most often mentioned when chicken keepers talk about internal parasites.
They also provide healthy fats, protein, vitamins, minerals and an enjoyable form of flock enrichment.
Do Pumpkin Seeds Deworm Chickens?
Pumpkin seeds contain naturally occurring plant compounds that have attracted interest for possible antiparasitic properties.
Feeding whole pumpkin seeds, however, should not be considered dependable treatment for an established worm infestation.
I enjoy giving my flock leftover fresh pumpkin during pumpkin season. My hens get something interesting to peck through while eating the flesh and seeds.
How Much Pumpkin Seed Can Chickens Eat?
- Offer about 1 tablespoon per adult chicken as an occasional treat.
- Give bantams a little less.
- Adjust slightly for particularly large breeds.
- Keep treats to a small part of the overall diet.
- Continue providing nutritionally complete chicken feed.
Cucumber Seeds for Chickens
Cucumber seeds are another traditional natural food sometimes mentioned in chicken parasite discussions.
Cucumbers themselves also provide moisture and enrichment by encouraging natural pecking behavior.
Do Cucumber Seeds Deworm Chickens?
Feeding cucumber seeds has not been established as a reliable way to eliminate an active worm infestation in chickens.
I like slicing a cucumber lengthwise and placing it in the run so the flock can peck through the flesh and seeds together.
How I Offer Cucumber
- Slice a fresh cucumber lengthwise.
- Place it where several chickens can share it.
- Offer cucumber as an occasional treat.
- Remove uneaten pieces before they spoil.
- Continue feeding a nutritionally complete ration.
Garlic for Chickens
Garlic is another ingredient frequently used by natural-minded backyard chicken keepers.
Chickens may eat small amounts of fresh garlic mixed into their regular food. I introduce it gradually and make sure my flock continues eating normally.
Does Garlic Deworm Chickens?
Garlic is frequently suggested as a home remedy for internal parasites, but feeding garlic has not been established as a reliable way to eliminate an active worm infestation.
How I Offer Garlic
- Start with a small amount.
- Finely mince or crush fresh garlic.
- Mix a small amount into regular food.
- Do not replace complete chicken feed with garlic.
- Watch normal feed intake.
- Remove it if the flavor causes your chickens to eat less.
What About Garlic in Chicken Water?
Garlic-infused water is sometimes used by backyard chicken keepers, but there is no established deworming dosage for garlic water.
Diatomaceous Earth for Chickens
Diatomaceous earth, commonly called DE, is a very fine mineral powder made from the fossilized remains of microscopic aquatic organisms called diatoms.
Food-grade DE is used by some backyard chicken keepers as part of routine flock care. It may be used carefully in dry coop areas, appropriately managed dust baths, or according to the directions on a food-grade product.
Does Diatomaceous Earth Deworm Chickens?
Some poultry keepers add food-grade DE to feed in hopes of lowering internal parasite levels.
However, DE should not be relied upon as a dependable treatment for a confirmed or severe worm infestation.
How Does Diatomaceous Earth Work?
When dry DE comes into direct contact with certain crawling insects, its abrasive and absorbent particles can affect the insects’ protective outer coating and contribute to moisture loss.
This is a mechanical action, not a medication. Once DE becomes wet or passes through the moist digestive tract, it should not be assumed to work the same way against internal worms.
What Should Chicken Keepers Know Before Using DE?
- Choose the correct product. Use only food-grade DE or a product labeled for the intended use.
- Never use pool-grade DE. Pool-grade diatomaceous earth is not appropriate around chickens.
- Avoid airborne dust. Do not create clouds of powder in the coop or around your chickens.
- Protect eyes and nostrils. Keep fine DE dust away from your chickens’ faces.
- Follow the product label. Directions can differ from one food-grade DE product to another.
Can DE Help With External Parasites?
Food-grade DE may help reduce some crawling insects when it stays dry and comes into direct contact with them.
Some chicken keepers use small amounts in dry coop cracks or carefully managed dust-bath areas.
DE may not eliminate an established mite or lice infestation and should not replace a complete parasite-management and coop-cleaning plan.
Protect Your Chickens’ Lungs
Diatomaceous earth is an extremely fine dust. Avoid applying it directly around a chicken’s face or creating airborne clouds inside an enclosed coop.
Use it in a well-ventilated area and follow the handling precautions on the product label.
Using Food-Grade DE in Chicken Feed
Some backyard chicken keepers choose to mix food-grade diatomaceous earth into their flock’s feed as part of routine flock management.
If you choose to use DE this way, follow the mixing directions on the specific product you purchase.
How Much Food-Grade DE Should I Add to Chicken Feed?
If your specific product directs you to use approximately a 2% mixture, this reference can make batch preparation easier.
Always follow your own product’s label first.
For a Suspected Internal Worm Infestation
Contact a veterinarian or arrange a fecal test if your chicken has:
- Visible worms
- Ongoing diarrhea
- Unexplained weight loss
- Pale comb or wattles
- Breathing difficulty
- Reduced egg production
- Declining body condition
Identifying the parasite allows you to choose an effective treatment rather than relying on DE alone.
Where Diatomaceous Earth Fits Into Chicken Care
I think of DE as one possible part of a larger preventative flock-care routine rather than as a guaranteed internal dewormer.
- Keep housing clean.
- Keep bedding dry.
- Provide clean drinking water.
- Feed a balanced chicken ration.
- Watch droppings and body condition.
- Use appropriate treatment when worms are confirmed.
For a Suspected Internal Worm Infestation
Contact a veterinarian or arrange a fecal test if your chicken has:
- Visible worms
- Ongoing diarrhea
- Pale comb or wattles
- Unexplained weight loss
- Breathing trouble
- Reduced egg production
- Declining body condition
Identifying the parasite can help you choose an effective treatment rather than relying on DE alone.
Where Diatomaceous Earth Fits Into Chicken Care
Diatomaceous earth can have a place in a carefully managed backyard-chicken routine when it is used according to the directions of the specific food-grade product.
I consider it one part of a larger preventative routine that also includes:
- Clean housing
- Dry bedding
- Fresh drinking water
- Balanced nutrition
- Regular health checks
- Careful observation of droppings and body condition
For an active internal worm infestation, do not depend on DE alone. Proper identification and effective treatment are more important.
