Chickens are highly susceptible to worm infestations; The most common worms in chickens are roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms, and whipworms; these worms live inside the chicken and are often noticed from the signs the chicken presents.
You may lose your chickens when they are heavily infested by worms and not treated as soon as possible; for proper treatment, you need a highly effective chicken dewormer to treat and prevent worms, hence, this awareness on Fenbendazole.
How Fenbendazole For Chickens Works
Fenbendazole, sold under the brand names Panacur and Safe-Guard, is a chicken dewormer proven to be effective against roundworms, tapeworms, gape worms, whipworms, and flukeworms in chickens. Fenbendazole for chickens comes in a tablet, paste, and water-soluble poultry form (usually branded as Aquasol).
Fenbendazole dewormer works by paralyzing adult worms and their larvae present in the digestive tract of chickens. It also kills other parasites such as fleas, lice, and mites. Fenbendazole dewormer also stops these parasites from developing into adults so they can’t lay eggs and spread the infestation to other chickens.
You don’t need to see any evidence that a worm has passed through your chicken’s system; it just needs time for all of them to be eliminated from their bodies naturally.
Fenbendazole Dosage For Chickens
The recommended fenbendazole dose for chickens in water is 20 mg/kg body weight; the fenbendazole is administered to chickens orally through their drinking water for 3 days.
You can start giving fenbendazole dewormer to chickens above 6 weeks of age; It is also advisable to give Fenbendazole dewormer to pullets around (18 weeks) prior to laying.
The fenbendazole Withdrawal Period is 7-10 days; during this period, it is recommended to not consume the eggs produced by the chickens and the chicken must not be slaughtered for consumption.
Fenbendazole for Chicken Side Effects
The most common side effect of fenbendazole is diarrhea in chickens. Diarrhea can lead to dehydration and other health issues; it is advisable to ensure the chickens have enough fresh water in their drinkers when administering fenbendazole.
Other side effects you can look out for after administering fenbendazole are rapid weight loss labored breathing, and lethargy; these are all signs that your chicken may be experiencing dehydration due to diarrhea caused by fenbendazole dewormer treatment.
Another common side effect of fenbendazole in chicken is vomiting during treatment time frames (generally 24 hours after ingestion). This isn’t usually serious unless prolonged vomiting lasts longer than 48 hours.
Cost and Where To Buy Fenbendazole For Chickens
The price of fenbendazole for chickens ranges from $29.89 to $39.99 per bottle, which is an excellent value for the amount of product you get and the results you’ll see. The benefits of fenbendazole for chickens are well worth the price.
You can buy fenbendazole dewormer from vet stores or online retail stores. Where you buy it also determines the price at which you get it. To be on the safest side, we recommend you get it at a vet store.
General Signs of Worms In Chickens
General Signs of Worms In Chickens
For effective treatment of worms in chickens, you need to be aware of the signs of worm presence in your birds. Generally, signs of worms infestation in chickens include:
- Watery Diarrhea
- Bloody Diarrhea in severe cases
- Drooling of birds
- Loss of appetite
- Reduced egg production
- Weight loss or lack of weight gain in chicks
- Weakness and lethargy
- Respiratory disorders like sneezing, coughing, etc.
- Wheezing
How to Protect Your Chickens From Worms
Prevention of worms is better and cheaper than its treatment. There are management practices that will prevent the emergence of worms in your facility, keeping birds safe from the unfriendly effects of worms. Some of these practices are:
- Clean out your chicken coop on a regular basis. Worms like to live in dirty areas, so cleaning up after them can help keep the population down.
- Use Anti-bird nets to keep wild birds away from your coop; they are carriers of pathogens and worms.
- Keep your chickens’ feeders clean and free from leftovers; if you can get an automatic chicken feeder, please do. it will help reduce spillage and excessive feeder, thereby retaining the quality of the feed.
- Do not let your chickens roam freely, particularly in areas where wild birds and other pets like cats and dogs roam freely in. Roaming free will increase their risk of coming in contact with wild birds, which may be carrying worms or parasites that could infect them. It’s best for both of you for your chicken to stay inside its coop during the day (and night) so it doesn’t get into trouble out there.
- Don’t let chickens drink from puddles on rainy days, if possible, this can increase the risk of worm infestation.
- Use organic chicken dewormer or add Apple cider vinegar in water to reduce the risk of worm infestation and improve the gut health of your chickens. Sprinkle Diatomaceous Earth in the feathers and bedding. You can also use ash dust for the chickens to bathe in. They are safe and have no detrimental effects on chickens.
On a final note,
Fenbendazole is a broadspectrum dewormer that can help get rid of common parasitic worms affecting the productivity of chicks. As a poultry keeper, you know how important it is to keep your flock healthy. Reducing the risk of worm infestations is a good way to increase their lifespan and production potential.
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