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If you own goats or are thinking about it, worming is a critical part of keeping your goats healthy and happy. Chemical wormers are one of the options for de-worming your goats, but I have found that I prefer the herbal method, where prevention and health are the objectives.
Benefits of Herbal Wormers
How do herbal wormers work and what are the benefits?
Specific herbs in herbal worming blends aid in boosting your goat’s immune system, which in turn help to fend off parasites. The herbs act as preventative medicine instead of reactive medicine. Keep your goat healthy and happy and they will be much less likely to become infested with worms.
If your goat already has worms, particular herbs help expel the parasites. They do not like being near the herbs, so they leave the body via the goat’s droppings.
My favorite benefit of herbal wormers is that you do not have to stress out and/or pump your goat full of poison. A happy goat is a healthier goat.
Procuring Herbs
I will assume if you are still reading you are considering the more natural approach to keeping your goat worm free. If you are fully on board, you will need to decide how you will procure your herbs. I have plenty of space to grow the herb blend, yet I have chosen to purchase my herbs on-line from a long-time goat owner and herb specialist (http://fiascofarm.com/herbs/wormer.htm). You may decide to grow them yourself, purchase them in bulk on-line, or order them ready to go as I did. If you are raring to grow, you will need the following ingredients to start your herbal blend: Black Walnut, Fennel, Garlic, Wormwood, Stevia, Hyssop, Thyme, Cucurbita Pepo, and Mugwort. Recipes will vary, but those are some of the basics to get you started.
1) I use a glass-canning jar and a plastic syringe to administer the herbal wormer. Apply a small amount of olive oil to the tip of the syringe’s plunger so it does not stick while you are releasing the herbs into the goat’s mouth. (I am currently using a more effective syringe to dispense any liquids to my goats. Click to see this update).
2) Use very warm water to mix with the herbs. Goats LOVE extra warm water.
3) I mix 2 tablespoon of Molly’s Herbals Formula #2 Weekly Worm Formula and Tonic to approximately 8 ounces of water for my two 160 pound goats (I also tried mixing the herb blend dry with their goat chow, but found that the herbs settled to the bottom as they rooted around in the chow. If you do choose to mix your herbs with feed, I like to use the 3.5 quart Little Giant Mineral Feeder. I have several around the barn for feed, mineral, and baking soda. Liquid form does ensure that they ingest all of the herbs). For my goats, if the mix is too strong, the goats turn their noses up to it and shy away from it the next time I attempt to administer it. They have excellent memories. This makes it important to get it right as soon as possible, but no pressure! Molly’s Herbals includes a dosage chart to help find the right amount for your goat.
4) Add a tablespoon or so of honey to the liquid blend if your goats do not seem to like the herbs. I have had 100% administration success since adding honey to the mix.
5) Remember to keep your goat’s head looking straight up when feeding them the liquid herbs. This will ensure that the blend is heading to the proper stomach.
It makes me smile to think about how excited my goats are when they see that glass jar and syringe full of “herb tea” heading their way. I imagine that would not be the case with a syringe full of chemical de-wormer. So, fellow and prospective goat owners, cheers to happy and healthy goats!
Follow up: My goats are turning 6 in February of 2018! They continue to be healthy, happy, worm-free goats! Here is an added list of 5 of my favorite items that I use with my goats. Some of these products are affiliate links. If you click and purchase, I make a little extra money to care for the farm.Thanks for your support!
5 Favorite Goat Items
Looking for some fun goaty gift ideas? Here are some of my favorites!
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If you have any questions, feel free to message me!
You’ve convinced me. If I had a goat I would surely use herb tea.
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Hip, hip, hooray for herbal tea dewormer…..plus the honey. Those pictures make me chuckle, thanks.
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We keep talking about maybe keeping goats one day; this warmed my heart to the idea all the more!
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Will it work for horses?
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On a side note, is that goat house made of pallets?? Please share a further picture, if you could!
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This “barn” is a corn crib. Not the greatest because there are openings. Have to cover the walls to create a space that no air can get in.
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Is the 1 tbsp of herb and 4 ounces of water the dose for 1 goat? Also, how often do you give it to them?
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Hi! Yes. I have two 160 pound goats, so I put 2 rounded tbls., of her Formula #2, 2 tbls of honey, and about 2-3 cups of hot water in a large mason jar. I switch off between the goats giving them their plunger full (which I got at tractor supply). I don’t really measure anymore, but the jar ends up being about 1/2 full. You will find out how strong your goats like it. I also add probios probiotics to it sometimes. The package that you get from Molly’s Herbals explains the dosage, but I give them the Formula #2, 1x per week. The Formula #1 herb blend is given everyday for 3 days, repeating every 6-8 weeks. Just let me know if you have anymore questions.
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Hello,
Very helpful information but you did not share the ratio of the herbs. Do you have the exact recipe to share? Thank you, lisa momisa@comcast.net
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Hi Lisa. Molly’s Herbals gives you exact instructions for your particular animal and weight. Very easy. I was just trying to give helpful hints to make it easier:) Thanks for reading!
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good …thankls
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Hello thank you for your post it was very informational, my husband and I are first time go owners of two Goats I would like to order some of the goat dewormer tea, but not sure what one to get when first starting out, thank you and have a blessed day.
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Just wondering how you let your goats roam free in the yard? I have to fence a 4 acre area to keep them in. I have 60 acres and 2 of my goats got out and were 2 farms over.
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Thanks I learned a lot very informative, I enjoyed it very much.
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