Chicken Dewormer: Which Is Best?

There are a lot of reasons you should deworm your chickens. First and foremost, deworming helps keep your chickens healthy. Worms can cause anemia, which can lead to death in extreme cases. They also cause diarrhea, stunt growth, and make it harder for your chickens to fight off infections. Deworming protects your flock from harmful worms, and it prevents the transmission of those worms onto humans during handling or via the ingestion of infected eggs or meat.

Worms can come from other chickens, rodents, and fleas carrying tapeworm eggs. That’s why it’s essential to keep an eye on your flock and make sure you deworm them regularly — especially if you have young birds that haven’t yet had a chance to build up immunity against worms.

Choosing the best chicken dewormer for your birds can be pretty overwhelming. There are many different kinds of dewormers available, and each one is unique in its own way. After carefully reviewing products available on the market, we have made this list of the best chicken dewormers you can buy to keep your chickens safe from worms. 

A-Z-Animals Top Picks for Chicken Dewormers

#1 Best Overall: Verm-X Liquid Poultry & Fowl Dewormer

The best chicken dewormer available on the market right now is the Verm-x Liquid Poultry & Fowl Internal Parasite.

This is a liquid wormer specially formulated for chickens and other poultry. It contains only natural ingredients (all herbs) and no harmful chemicals; hence it is safe for your birds and easy on your bank account. Verm-X is more like a complementary feed that eliminates worms and keeps the guts of your birds healthy and free from other challenges. It is also vet approved.

You simply add this solution to your birds’ feed or water and repeat the treatment for three consecutive days in a month or as often as required.

However, one thing to note is that this formula is strong-smelling, although this does not affect how it works.

Pros and Cons of the Verm-X Liquid Poultry & Fowl Dewormer

Best Overall

Verm-X Liquid Poultry & Fowl Dewormer

• Specially formulated for chickens 
• No harmful chemicals
• Comes in a liquid
• Apply to your chicken's feed

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2. Most Natural: Chicken Wormwood Natural Wormer

The most natural option is the Chicken Wormwood Natural Wormer.

This natural wormer is a parasite repellent that is suitable for poultry, ducks, pigeons, and game birds. It uses only natural ingredients and contains absolutely no chemicals at all. It contains wormwood as the first ingredient which a traditional remedy for intestinal hygiene. It also contains walnut, cinnamon, garlic, thyme, clove, and quassia which are all traditional remedies and parasite repellents.

Due to it’s natural nature, this product has no withdrawal period — meaning that it is completely safe to consume the eggs and meat from birds treated with it. It is also simple to use — just add to the drinking water of your flock or mix it with their food for three to four days per month.

The only drawback to this product is that it is only a small bottle which is not really suitable for larger flocks.

Pros and Cons of the Chicken Wormwood Natural Wormer

Most Natural

Chicken Wormwood Natural Wormer

• Uses only natural ingredients.
• No withdrawal period for consumption of eggs or meat.
• Helps with gut and intestinal hygiene.
• Simply add to water or mix with feed.

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3. Best Wormer Alternative: Pampered Chicken Mama WormBGone Coop & Poultry Nesting Box Herbs

If you don’t fancy feeding your birds a worming product then the best alternative is the Pampered Chicken Mama WormBGone Coop & Poultry Nesting Box Herbs.

This product can be mixed in the bedding or in the nesting boxes and it helps to create an environment that parasites cannot live in. It uses only natural ingredients — including calendula, rose petals, basil, rosemary, sage, wormwood, coriander, and fennel.

This product also helps to promote natural scratching behavior in your birds. Plus, as it is a natural product there is no withdrawal period for consuming the eggs. It is also available in several different sized bags to suit the size of your flock.

However, this product is a more expensive option. Also, it does not actively treat worm infestations in your birds.

Pros and Cons of the Pampered Chicken Mama WormBGone Coop & Poultry Nesting Box Herbs

Best Wormer Alternative

Pampered Chicken Mama WormBGone Coop & Poultry Nesting Box Herbs

• Natural, organic, and safe
• No harmful side effects
• Contains calendula and wormwood extract
• Very sweet-smelling

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4. Best on a Budget: HomeoVet Avian WRM Clear Worms Removal Bird Supplement

In our opinion, the best option budget option is the HomeoVet Avian WRM Clear Worms Removal Bird Supplement.

This chicken dewormer is an excellent option for treating worms in chickens. It contains wormwood extract and sulfur compounds that work together to kill roundworms, threadworms, and tapeworms in your poultry flock. This chicken dewormer also works well as an intestinal cleanser, which helps keep your chickens’ digestive systems functioning properly by removing toxins from their bodies.

It is a clear liquid that is easy to administer and provides fast relief from worm infestations. It comes in a one ounce bottle and treats up to 50 chickens. The label on the bottle states that it is safe to use on all types of poultry, including chickens, ducks, geese, ostriches, emus, and quail. This product does not contain artificial coloring or flavoring, and you can use it alongside other medications.

However, it should be noted that this product does not kill the parasites internally. Instead, it helps birds to expel them, upon which they die outside the body.

Pros and Cons of the HomeoVet Avian WRM Clear Worms Removal Bird Supplement

Best on a Budget

HomeoVet Avian WRM Clear Worm Removal Bird Supplement

• Kill roundworms, threadworms, and tapeworms
• Can be used as an intestinal cleanser
• Easy to administer
• No artificial coloring or flavoring

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Choosing the Best: What to Look For

When choosing a chicken dewormer, it is essential to consider what type of worm you are trying to eliminate. Some worms live inside the body while others live outside of it, but all worms need food. If you feed your chickens a variety of foods, they will attract more than one kind of worm, making it challenging to choose a dewormer that suits your flock best.

To make this decision easier, here are some things that you should look out for when choosing a chicken dewormer.

Effectiveness

Chickens can become infected with various worms that can be harmful to them. The most common culprits are roundworms, tapeworms, and liver flukes. To prevent these infections from occurring, you’ll need a deworming medication that’s effective against those parasites. The best chicken dewormer will also be able to treat other types of worms that may infect your chickens.

Safety

Choosing a chicken dewormer safe for your chickens and other livestock is essential. Some medications can cause irritation or allergic reactions in your animals if you don’t administer them properly. Some medications are only safe for older birds or only work on certain types of worms. So make sure the product you choose is suitable for all ages of birds.

Prescription

You can easily purchase the best chicken dewormer over-the-counter in your area. If you’re looking for a product that requires a prescription, you’ll need to visit your veterinarian. 

Many options exist if you want to purchase something that doesn’t require a prescription. However, you will want to check with your veterinarian before administering any medication to your chickens to ensure that it does not interact adversely with other medicines or conditions affecting their health.

Withdrawal Period

The withdrawal period is the time after administering the product whereby you cannot consume the eggs and meat from treated birds as the product will still be in their system and may be harmful to you. Most natural wormers do not have a withdrawal period, meaning that the eggs are safe to consume. However, most chemical-based wormers do have a withdrawal period and it is therefore important to note the length of this and the date that it will end.