Worming is an essential part of any animal health care routine. In poultry, worms are usually caught from the food that birds consume. Insects (flies, beetles etc.), annelids (earthworms) and molluscs (slugs and snails) often become carriers for worm eggs, which will hatch and infect any bird or animal that eats them.

It is possible for worms to be transmitted between infected birds, usually through contact with contaminated droppings. In domestic pets, worms are often caught from wild birds, such as pigeons or ibis, which visit your coop or aviary to take advantage of the readily available food and water. Unclean water, such as puddles on the flood of an aviary after rain, can also become contaminated and infect birds.

Worms are not usually transferable between species, for example from birds to humans, or from other pets to birds. But to err on the side of caution, always wash your hands thoroughly after touching any animal (chicken or otherwise).

Although healthy birds are unlikely to fall ill because of worms, in most circumstances it is good practice to worm your birds every 6 to 8 months. This is particularly important if your birds range freely, have access to the outdoors, interact with other birds, consume insects or show symptoms of a worm infestation. Avitrol Plus Bird Wormer Syrup Concentrate is a hassle-free way to deworm your birds through their drinking water. It treats a range of common parasites and is recommended for use with most caged birds. 
 

Features of Avitrol Plus Bird Wormer Tablets & Syrup (25ml)

• Active ingredients: Levamisole hydrochloride 10mg/ml; praziquantel 2mg/ml.
• Broad-spectrum dewormer suitable for the treatment of ornamental caged birds, including pigeons, parrots and most finches.
• Treats all common worm species, including: threadworm (Capilliaria spp.), caecal worm (Heterakis spp.), roundworm (Ascaridia spp.), tapeworm (Raillietina spp.), gape worm (Syngamus spp.) and gizzard worm (Acuaria spp.).
• Syrup is a clear liquid (red).
• Dilute recommended dose in drinking water for convenient treatment.
• Manufactured by Mavlab, Australia’s leading producer of veterinary pharmaceuticals.
   

How to use Avitrol Plus Bird Wormer Syrup

Avitrol Plus Bird Wormer Syrup is designed for preventative and therapeutic deworming. Read the instructions carefully before use.

Some varieties of bird show levamisole sensitivity. DO NOT use with Gouldian Finches or other bird species with known sensitivity. Suitable for parrots, but use with caution as some birds can be more sensitive than others.

Avoid the treatment of birds that are stressed or ill (unless showing symptoms of worm infestation) and birds feeding young. Administer in cooler weather for better dosage control.

Caged birds should be treated for worms every 6-8 months – ideally in spring and autumn. Dose the entire flock twice, 14 days apart, in order to prevent re-infection of birds from eggs/larvae in the immediate environment. 24 hours after each dose, the cage or aviary should be cleaned and disinfected, and all bedding replaced.

Avitrol Plus Syrup is administered in drinking water. Provide only freshly-made, medicated drinking water solution and seed for 24 hours, then replace with clean water and feed birds as normal. In hot weather, the recommended dosage should be diluted with up to double the amount of water listed to account for increased water consumption. 

The recommended dosage of Avitrol Plus is 1 drop of syrup concentrate per 10 grams of bird bodyweight. Dilute 12 drops/0.5 ml of syrup concentrate in 20-25 ml of drinking water. 

As with any medication, it is not recommended that eggs or meat of a bird treated with Avitrol Plus are consumed for at least 7 days after treatment. While many chicken owners use Avitrol Plus for their birds, this use is off-label and residue data for meat and egg withholding times is not currently available.