Because the prices of premixed herbal dewormers are getting so expensive, I have done some research and have found some recipes for homemade herbal wormer.

This is my recipe; I got the best out of several recipes, and, with a few tweaks, here it is! More updates as I continue to test it and tweak it.

As a rule of thumb, use 1 cup of the powdered herbs to 2 cups of the cut herbs, except for the cloves, and diatomaceous earth.

Updated 02/13/2016

Homemade Herbal Animal Dewormer & Tonic

Dosage: 1 teaspoon for every 30 pounds, 1 tablespoon for every 100 lbs.

Note: it is better to overdose than underdose with herbs. Extra herbs will not hurt the animal, but too little will not be effective.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup whole or powdered Cloves
• 1 cup Anise Seed powder (optional)
• 1 cup Black Walnut hull powder*
• 1 cup Cayenne Pepper powder*
• 1 cup Cinnamon powder
• 1 cup Garlic (powder or minced)*
• 1 cup Ginger Root powder
• 1 cup Mustard seed powder
• 1 cup Psyllium seed powder
• 1 cup Rosemary leaf powder
• 2 cups Sage leaf
• 2 cups Thyme leaf
• 2 cups Wormwood*

 

• 2 cups Diatomaceous Earth —Note that diatomaceous earth makes the dewormer very dusty and hard on the lungs; it may be omitted and fed separately to promote palatability of this dewormer. (diatomaceous earth is very helpful in getting rid of external parasites as well)

Use Diatomaceous Earth in the wormer for pigs, birds, ground feeds, and dosage      balls.

*The most crucial ingredients marked with an asterisk.

Basically, use 1 cup of powdered herbs to each 2 cups of cut/chopped herbs. The exceptions to this are the cloves and the diatomaceous earth.

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together and store in a glass jar. Keep in a cool, dark place.

Administer for 7 days, morning and evening, every 6-8 weeks and as needed. Do not add Wormwood or Black Walnut for pregnant animals; do not add Black Walnut at all for equines.

If Wormwood and Black Walnut have been left out of main batch:

Individual dosage of Wormwood is 1/4 tsp per 30# at same rate as dewormer (7 days, 2x per day, etc.)

Individual dosage of Black Walnut is 1/8 tsp per 30# at same rate as dewormer (7 days, 2x per day, etc.)

Worming Kids: Administer the three day dose starting at 3 weeks of age and repeating every 3-4 weeks until the kids/lambs/calves/etc, are 6 months of age, then then begin them on the 8 week cycle. If you see any diarrhea, immediately administer three days in a row. This also helps prevent coccidiosis.

Herbal dosage balls can make herbs more palatable to livestock. I use molasses because it can be bought in bulk very cheaply at Tractor Supply or Southern States.

Herbal Dosage Balls For Livestock:

Mix together:

• 1/2 cup (8 Tablespoons) powdered or finely crushed herb
• 1/4 cup (4 Tablespoons) Slippery Elm Bark powder OR flour (this acts as a binding agent to hold the herb mixture together.)

Add:

• 1/4 cup Molasses/Honey OR 1/2-2/3 cup Peanut Butter

With your fingers (or in a food processor), mix and kneed into a dough. Break into 12 even pieces, shape into balls and then roll the balls in a little bit of flour just to coat. Each ball equals a 2 Teaspoon dose. Offer an herbal dosage ball to the animal first, and he may eat it right out of your hand. If he won’t, shove it in his mouth. Often, the animal realizes the balls taste good and wants more. If he spits it out, just shove further back in the mouth next time. (For goat kids, or other smaller animals, I break the balls into smaller pieces to administer.)

**WARNING** The rear teeth of livestock are EXTREMELY sharp and can give a very nasty cut. Be super careful during force feeding dosage balls!!

A picture of herbal dosage balls can be found here: http://fiascofarm.com/herbs/herbimages/balls-1.jpg

 

View my posts on this subject:

• Homemade Herbal Dewormer
• Homemade Herbal Dewormer Part 2

 

*Disclaimer: These remedies are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, mitigate or prevent any disease.

The information and statements presented on this site have not been evaluated or approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The use of herbs and essential oil for the prevention, treatment, mitigation or cure of disease has not been approved by the FDA or USDA. We therefore make no claims to this effect.

We are not veterinarians or doctors. The information on this site is based on the traditional and historic use of herbs as well as personal experience and is provided for general reference and educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, prescribe or promote any direct or implied health claims. This information is and products are not intended to replace professional veterinary and/or medical advice. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your vet and/or doctor. We present the products on this site and the information supplied here without guarantees, and we disclaim all liability in connection with the use of these products and/or information. Any person making the decision to act upon this information is responsible for investigating and understanding the effects of their own actions.