Parasites in backyard chickens are very common and it is very easy for chickens to pick up parasitic worms. The popularity of poultry keeping is on the rise these days and many beginner chicken owners have no idea that they have to worm their birds regularly.
How can your chickens get parasitic worms?
- If you buy birds from someone, it is possible that they may already be infested with parasitic worms even if there are no visible signs that they have worms.
- Wild birds can also be infested with parasitic worms. When they visit your backyard, they can then pass them onto your chickens.
- Earth worms can also carry parasitic worms and chickens love to eat worms.
The infected chickens, wild birds or worms carrying the eggs pass them into the environment via eggs that are contained in their droppings. Then the worm eggs that are laying on the ground are picked up, eaten and then hatch into their adult form inside the bird that has just eaten them. It can be a never ending cycle of infestation.
Do you know what some of the common chicken parasites that you may have to treat are? Click here to find out .