Internal parasites and worms can cause unhealthy chickens. Instead of using unnatural chemicals here are some natural dewormers for chickens.
I have never had a worm issue with my chickens and I hope to keep it that way. I am constantly feeding my chickens natural foods that keep the worms at bay.
Some people believe you must deworm your chickens every year with medications. This is not true and I have never used medications on my chickens.
Some of the dewormers you find in stores also require that you don't eat your chicken's eggs because of the chemicals in the wormer medication.
Instead of going through that hassle, here are some natural foods you can routinely feed your hens to keep the worms away.
Pumpkin Seeds
The seeds of pumpkin contain a compound called cucurbitacin. This amino acid paralyzes and kills parasites and worms.
While the pumpkin flesh also contains these anti-worm properties it is most concentrated in the seeds.
I give my chickens whole pumpkins in the fall and they love them. If you have pumpkins make sure to feed them to your chickens when you are done decorating with them.
You can also feed them the fresh seeds out of pie pumpkins when you prepare them.
Melons and squash
Since melons and squash are in the cucurbit family they also contain cucurbitacin. If you have any overgrown zucchini or cucumbers your chickens will gladly eat them.
Feeding melons and squash to your hens during the summer is a great way to keep them parasite free.
Garlic
Garlic has many healthy benefits for your flock including deworming. It is currently believed that garlic kills worms due too it's high sulfur content.
Garlic also helps your hens maintain a healthy immune system so you should start feeding it to your hens. You can give them garlic powder or simply throw a few fresh cloves in their water.
Some say that when chickens eat garlic their eggs taste weird. I have fed my hens garlic for years and never had any weird tasting eggs, so I don't think this is true.
Herbs
There are many herbs that are said to be good dewormers. Just like garlic, herbs also have a multitude of health benefits for your hens.
I grow lots of fresh herbs so I am always tossing handfuls of them to my chickens. A few that I like are mint, basil, thyme, chamomile, calendula, and oregano.
Apple Cider Vinegar
I bet you already know that ACV is amazing for chickens and humans alike! You can add one more health benefit to ACV which is it's deworming properties.
I incorporate ACV into my flock by adding it to their water. For chickens add 2 tablespoons of ACV per one gallon of water.
Cayenne pepper
Cayenne pepper is another natural dewormer that I use. I often give my hens cayenne pepper over the winter because it also helps them stay warm.
You can add cayenne powder to your chickens water or simply sprinkle it on their feed. Chickens cannot taste spicy foods so they gobble it up.
Diatomaceous Earth
DE is made of ground up fossils and is very abrasive on the microscopic level. While it feels like harmless fine flour for parasites it is deadly.
DE can be fed to chickens to help kill parasites. If you want to mix it in chicken feed only mix in 2% of DE to their regular feed. If you have a 50lbs bag of feed you should only mix in 1lbs or less of DE.
Diatomaceous earth also has many other uses in the chicken coop.
Do these dewormers really work?
There are many chicken keepers who frown on natural methods saying that their is not enough research to back up the claims of natural methods.
While it may be true that there are not many studies I believe these methods work. I have never had an issue with internal parasites or worms in my flock.
If these natural methods don't work there are no downsides to giving them to your flock. All these natural dewormers have many other health benefits so why not try them!
Are Worms Common In Backyard Chickens
Most chickens already have worms in their system they just aren't an issue. If the worm pressure is not strong the chicken's own body can deal with it.
The issue is when worms overtake the GI tract and suck nutrients away from the chicken. If your hens are already healthy and you feed them some of the things above they are less likely to have a worm issue.
Chickens that have a weakened system due to an illness or nutrient deficiency are more likely to develop a parasite issue.
Keep you hens healthy and feed them natural dewormers!
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