To Worm? Or Not to Worm?

To worm?  Or not to worm?  That is the question.

This complex question hit me a little sooner than I would have liked.  No, my goat doesn't seem "wormy" that I know of ("wormy" would include symptoms such as weight loss, anemia, diarrhea, a dull coat, etc.).  However, worms are a huge problem with goats and need to be prevented.  When I went to the vet, I was told I needed to give a chemical wormer to start preventing these invisible destroyers.  The vet sent me home with Panacur (Fenbendazole) and instructed me to give the wormer this week.

Wait a minute!  The words "chemical wormer" did not go over very well with the aspiring goat-farmer who wishes to raise natural goats.  So off I went, researching online and calling trusted goat-farmer friends.  There has to be another way, I reasoned.

Here is some of the advice I received:

• My goat's dam (mother) received wormer while pregnant.  My goat probably is not quite ready for a heavy wormer if she still has her mother's wormer in her system.
• Most goats become to immune to wormers after a while.  If I start with a strong wormer, my goats will become immune to it early-on in life and I will have created a "super worm." Yikes!
• Giving wormer stresses out the goat.  Not something I want to purposefully induce with a fragile kid.
• Chemical wormers are a money-making industry.
• As long as the goat is not mineral deficit, in minerals such as copper, the goat's body should effectively combat any worms.
• Pasture rotation is a good way to prevent worms.
• It takes a lot of study to truly understand how to naturally prevent worms.  However, the right herbal treatments really do work!

With this information in mind, I have decided to wage war on convention.  I set out on an adventure, not a vacation.  What is an adventure if it doesn't involve the unknown, the suspenseful, or the risk?

I have decided to use the "Molly's Herbal Wormer," found HERE.  The main herbs are wormwood, garlic, fennel, black walnut, cucurbits pepo, mugwort, hyssop, and thyme.  Amazingly, almost all of these herbs can be safely taken by humans as well.  Hurray for chemical-free!

I am so excited for my herbal wormer to arrive at the post office.  I am eager to see--for myself--if herbal wormers really do work!  I might still need to give a chemical wormer every now and then to get rid of really tough worms.  But for now, I will seek every possible natural means to keep my goat healthy!

Eager Edna jumping up on the fence!