How to raise Backyard Chickens: [CHICKENS-101] Re: thanks and a question

I agree on using any and all drugs with caution. Loss of efficacy is a major concern especially with antibiotics; the loss of their efficacy affects all of us and they should be used with the utmost of care.

However, I haven't read any *medical literature* warning against an annual prophylactic de-worming of poultry. Ivermectin is given to dogs through out the spring and summer months (and in some areas, it's given all year round) to prevent heartworm infestation from mosquitoes. It's given without incidence and remains effective year after year.

In wildlife (and probably free ranging poultry as well) internal parasites are ever present and in most cases, the parasite and host develop a kind of symbiotic relationship without any symptoms or damage to the host. When problems develop, it's usually due to the host becoming debilitated in some fashion or an over abundance of parasites in housing areas allowing the parasite to proliferate and become an issue.

That said, the proper use of de-wormers should not create problems prophylactically and in my opinion, is good husbandry. Since some parasites are zoonotic, annual de-worming protects us as well and something that I must address when dealing with wildlife in my care. I de-worm all wildlife prophylactically while in my facility.

In my opinion, when it comes to poultry, it's better to keep the problem under control than to let it proliferate causing an infestation in soil making it harder to deal with in the long run.

Just my 50 cents ;)

Sue
WLR

"pottlabop" <denise.cobban@...> wrote:
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> Hi all,
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> I don't post here too often - i tend to lurk, but i had to point out a couple of things here...
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> Ivermectin - use it ONLY if you actually see worms