NATURAL FEED ADDICTIVES THAT CAN HELP TO PREVENT WORMS IN POULTRY BIRDS

Feed additives are materials added to animal feeds to improve metabolic processes and general well-being of the animal. Worms are major threat in poultry production as they reduces production and result in low efficiency of feed. 

However, prevention is better than cure and most times the preventive measures are readily available and cheaper as compare to curative measures. There are some materials that can be added to the animal feeds with make the animal system uncomfortable for the worms. These materials include;

• Apple Cider Vinegar: Add 1 teaspoon of Apple Cider Vinegar to each Gallon of water for the birds. It helps maintain an acidic environment in the gastrointestinal tract of the bird, creating less than optimal environment for worms.

• Mixing Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth with animal feed: These fossil remnants make worm uncomfortable and fight against all types of worms. Mix about 2% in the chicken feed

     

• Plain yogurt with live and active cultures: Giving the birds yogurt helps to maintain and add to the normal bacteria living in the guts. It also promotes the gastrointestinal health and also a great source of calcium.

• Raw pumpkin seeds: Ground raw hulled pumpkin seeds have a coating on the seeds that paralyzes the worm; this coating chemical is called cucurbitacin. It works for only tapeworm and round worm.

• Vitamins and electrolytes with probiotics: Add in water about once a week in the summer and daily in winter.

• Garlic: grind to fine particles and add to the feed.

However, for curative purposes, drugs are also available to get rid of parasitic worms. These include;

• Flubenvet 1%: safe for use in egg laying hen with only meat withdrawal period.

• Verm X: No egg withdrawal

• Fenbendazale: safe for use in egg laying hen with egg withdrawal period of about 10 days.

• Rooster Booster Triple action: it has egg withdrawal period for about 10 days.

Note

• Avoid worming during winter in freezing temperature.

• Avoid worming during molting period.

• Do not deworm birds less than 6 weeks.