Deworming chickens sounds kind of gross, but it really isn’t and it is actually quite simple to do. You can either use chemicals or treat it naturally. This article will show you how to deworm a chicken naturally as well as show you how to replace your chickens beneficial bacteria that is lost after a deworming.
How often should you deworm chickens? In order to prevent worms from attacking your flock, you should deworm your chickens every 3 months.
Can Humans Get Worms from Chickens? The type of worms that chickens get are species specific and extremely rare for a human to contract them. The 5 most common worms that chickens get are roundworms, cecal worms, capillary worms, tapeworm and gapeworm.
| 5 COMMON WORMS SEEN IN CHICKENS |
|---|
| 1. ROUNDWORMS |
| 2. CECAL WORMS |
| 3. CAPILLARY WORMS |
| 4. TAPEWORM |
| 5. GAPEWORM |
17 Signs Your Chicken Has Worms
How Can I Tell if My Chicken Has Worms?
| 17 SIGNS HOW CAN I TELL IF MY CHICKEN HAS WORMS? |
|---|
| 1. PALE COMB AND WATTLE |
| 2. INCREASED APPETITE |
| 3. DIRTY VENT FEATHERS |
| 4. LACK OF ENERGY |
| 5. LISTLESS |
| 6. WITHDRAWN |
| 7. CHANGE IN POOP: DIARRHEA, FOAMY, BLOODY |
| 8. GASPING |
| 9. STRETCHING NECK |
| 10. WORMS IN EGGS |
| 11. WORMS IN POOP |
| 12. WORMS IN THROAT |
| 13. HEAD SHAKING |
| 14. DROP IN EGG PRODUCTION |
| 15. SUDDEN DEATH |
| 16. WEIGHT LOSS |
| 17. DRY COMB AND WATTLE |
5 Best Ways- How to Deworm a Chicken Naturally
Increases egg laying naturally.
- Improves chicken health.
- Deters parasites: mites, lice, fleas, flies & rodents.
- On SALE!
- SHOP NOW
1. Apple Cider Vinegar as a Natural Dewormer for Chickens
By offering apple cider vinegar, ACV, in your chickens water it will lower the pH level in your chickens digestive system. ACV works by making your chickens crop and gut an unfriendly place for worms to thrive.
ACV will kill harmful bacteria in your chickens gut. It will also kill some beneficial bacteria (probiotics). This is why it is beneficial to follow up any deworming with 1 TBS plain, lactose free yogurt. I explain this in more detail below.
To jump directly to this part of the article, click the link below:
Replenishing Probiotics After Deworming
How often should I give my chickens apple cider vinegar?
ACV SERVING SIZE FOR DEWORMING CHICKENS
Apple cider vinegar can be given in your chickens water once a month for a period of 1 week. Add 1 tsp. of ACV per gallon of water. Because metal waterers will corrode, you should only add apple cider vinegar to plastic waterers. In order to use this as a dewormer, it should be repeated at least every 3 months.
Apple Cider Vinegar has so many other health benefits for your chickens! Read my article below to discover more ways your chickens will benefit from this.
2. Pumpkin Seeds as a Natural Dewormer for Chickens
Do pumpkin seeds deworm chickens? Yes, pumpkin seeds can deworm a chicken! The pumpkin seeds are coated with a natural chemical called triterpenes. When a chicken eats the seeds of a pumpkin, this natural chemical paralyzes any worms that are in its digestive tract.
Paralyzed worms cannot replicate and are expelled when a chicken poops.
PUMPKIN SEEDS SERVING SIZE FOR DEWORMING CHICKENS
Just like any other chicken “treat,” only offer 1 TBS of pumpkin seeds for each adult chicken. Bantam chickens can be given slightly less and larger breeds, slightly more. During pumpkin season, offer your flock your jack-o-lantern pumpkins instead of disposing them.
The day after Halloween my flock enjoys devouring our jack-o-lanterns (minus the candle of course)! This not only makes a perfect treat and great entertainment for your chickens, but is an excellent dewormer too!
3. Cucumber Seeds as a Natural Dewormer for Chickens
Cucumbers are also great to give your chickens as a dewormer. It is actually the cucumber seeds, just like pumpkin seeds, that contain the natural chemical that kills worms in the digestive tract of a chicken.
“Preparations derived from plants were the original therapeutic interventions used by man to control diseases (including parasites), both within humans and livestock. “
Direct Effects of Plants on Parasites
CUCUMBER SEEDS SERVING SIZE FOR DEWORMING CHICKENS
As a natural dewormer for your flock, offer 1 TBS of cucumber seeds for each adult chicken. To help prevent worms, this should be repeated at least every 3 months. If you have a flock of chickens, slice the cucumber open and let them have at it. It won’t hurt them to be given this on a monthly basis.
4. Garlic as a Natural Dewormer for Chickens
Garlic can be given to your chickens as a natural dewormer. It can be given crushed, powder form or even mixed in with the chicken water.
It works by starving the intestinal parasites(worms), because they don’t like the taste of garlic.
GARLIC SERVING SIZE FOR DEWORMING CHICKENS
How much garlic should I give my chickens? 1 clove of garlic per chicken, per day, for 10 days or you can add several cloves of garlic to its drinking water for a period of 10 days.
Is water mixed with garlic good for chickens? Yes, water mixed with garlic has many health benefits for your flock, including being a great dewormer. It also helps to deter other parasites, such as mites, lice and fleas.
5. Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous Earth is a natural, powdery substance made up of fossilized remains of very tiny shells. It deworms a chicken by drying out (dehydrating) the worms and stopping them from replicating.
“Diatomaceous Earth or DE is totally organic and safe. It is taken from fresh water deposits and is the purest form available. DE is mother nature’s product with no harm to the environment, pets or to humans. Diatomaceous Earth is not actually an “earth” but it is the fossilized remains of microscopic shells created by one celled plants called DIATOMS.”
Earth Core What is Diatomaceous Earth and How Does it Work?
Is diatomaceous earth good for chickens? Yes, diatomaceous earth has many health benefits for your chickens including it being a natural dewormer; killing both internal and external parasites. It also contains many essential trace minerals and acts as a natural deodorizer.
DIATOMACEOUS EARTH SERVING SIZE FOR DEWORMING CHICKENS
For deworming purposes, add a 2% ratio of diatomaceous earth to the chicken feed. The table below is based on providing your adult chickens with 1/2 cup of layers feed/day.
It is easiest to mix larger portions at a time. Mix the diatomaceous earth thoroughly with the chicken feed before serving.
| # CHICKENS | AMOUNT OF CHICKEN FEED | AMOUNT OF DIATOMACEOUS EARTH TO ADD TO CHICKEN FEED |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | 3 CUPS | 1 TBS |
| 12 | 6 CUPS | 2 TBS |
| 20 | 10 CUPS | 3 TBS |
| 24 | 12 CUPS | 1/4 CUP |
| 30 | 15 CUPS | 1/3 CUP |
| 40 | 20 CUPS | 1/2 CUP |
| 70 | 35 CUPS | 3/4 CUP |
| 100 | 50 CUPS | 1 CUP |
Lactose Free Instant Pot Yogurt- Replenishing Probiotics After Deworming
For all types of deworming methods, it is beneficial to follow up with giving probiotics to your chickens. Deworming will not only kill the worms, but also the beneficial gut bacteria that your chicken needs for healthy digestion. This can be done by offering your chicken 1 TBS of lactose free, plain yogurt.
“Chickens are NOT lactose intolerant. Chickens do produce a small amount of lactase which does not make them lactose intolerant. This is why they are ok consuming a small amount of products containing lactose without any harmful effects.”
By letting your homemade instant pot yogurt incubate a longer time, all of the lactose will be consumed.”
How to Make Homemade Instant Pot Yogurt for Chickens
I like to serve plain, lactose free yogurt that I make in my Instant Pot after each deworming treatment. Just make sure that you use the plain yogurt, without any added sugars.
YOGURT SERVING SIZE TO REPLENISH PROBIOTICS LOST AFTER DEWORMING CHICKENS
The serving size for any type of chicken “treat” is 1 TBS for each adult chicken. Bantam chickens should be given a little bit less and large breed chickens can be given a little bit more.
Chickens absolutely LOVE this healthy treat. But, stand clear when you serve this to them. They tend to fling yogurt all over the place!
Read my article below for the step by step instructions on how to make Homemade Instant Pot Yogurt for chickens.
Other F.A.Q.’s
Can you see worms in chicken poop?
Yes, you can see little wiggly worms in a chickens poop if it is infected with worms. It is important to periodically check out your flocks poop to make sure they are ok.
If one becomes infected, the whole flock is likely to become infected too. Worms in poop looks quite tasty to a chicken.
Can you eat eggs after deworming a chicken?
If you use natural methods to deworm your chicken, it is safe to eat chicken eggs both during and after worming. Natural methods include using apple cider vinegar, pumpkin and cucumber seeds, garlic and diatomaceous earth.
Depending upon what chemical treatment is used to deworm, there may be an “egg withdrawal” period. For instance, after using Ivermectin, there is a 17 day egg withdrawal period. After a hen is given Ivermectin, you must wait 17 days before you can eat its eggs.
CONCLUSION: 5 Best Ways- How to Deworm a Chicken Naturally
It’s important to know the signs as well as keep up on deworming in order to prevent worms from infecting your flock in the first place. There are 5 natural ways that you can use to deworm a chicken:
| NATURAL METHODS OF DEWORMING A CHICKEN |
|---|
| 1. APPLE CIDER VINEGAR |
| 2. PUMPKIN SEEDS |
| 3. CUCUMBER SEEDS |
| 4. GARLIC |
| 5. DIATOMACEOUS EARTH |
