Worms and pastured rabbits...

[Honeybun]

We pasture our meat rabbits, and lately, every rabbit we butcher has had intestines squirming full of worms. It's really sad. Is there something we can do to stop it? Herbal wormers are expensive and I'm not sure diatomaceous earth really works. Any advice appreciated, but I would prefer to do something natural and still keep them on pasture. Thanks!

 

[Dood]

If they are that full of worms I doubt natural is going to work.

I would treat them with fenbendazole

Then move the tractors to a fresh patch and move them every day. ( if you already move then the pasture is loaded and needs to be rested a year and/or tilled each spring to wipe them out)

Feeding plants high in tannins is supposed to repel the worms and prevent severe infestations but won't do much once they are entrenched in the intestines and will just spread the worms around the pasture.

 

[grumpy]

intestinal worm 'eggs' are in nearly all soils.
grumpy.

 

[Honeybun]

Thanks! So, Dood, I get that moving the pen to fresh grass daily will minimize worm problems. How long do I have to wait before coming back around to the same spot?

 

[Dood]

It depends on the worm, some take 12 months, but 6 months should kill off enough that the rabbits don't get a heavy load, especially if you feed repellents or preventatives.