Deworming + Bacterial Flushing Guide: Complete 8-Day Protocol
A complete guide to deworming gamefowl — including the bacterial flushing and recovery protocol. Schedule by age, dosage, and step-by-step instructions.
Why Is Deworming Necessary?
Internal parasites (worms) are silent killers. You won't always see them, but they gradually siphon nutrients — causing your birds to lose weight despite eating well, egg production to drop, and overall performance to decline.
Regular deworming is not optional — it's essential.
The risk of worms is higher when:
- It's rainy season (wet soil, more snails/slugs/beetles that carry tapeworms)
- The coop is overcrowded
- Droppings aren't cleaned out regularly
Why Is a Bacterial Flush Needed After Deworming?
A bacterial flush is the process of clearing harmful bacteria from the bird's system using an antibiotic at the proper dosage.
Why is it done after deworming? When worms die inside the intestines, they release bacteria as they decompose. This creates an opportunity for secondary bacterial infection. The antibiotic flush cleans up this mess so the bird can properly absorb nutrients again.
Signs Your Bird Has Worms
| Sign | How to Check |
|---|---|
| Weight loss despite eating | Feel the breast — if the keel bone is clearly visible, worms are suspected |
| Pale comb and wattles | Pale pink or nearly white instead of bright red |
| Ruffled, dull feathers | Feathers lack shine and appear disheveled |
| Diarrhea or loose droppings | Check droppings daily |
| Visible worms in droppings | White strands like spaghetti (roundworms) or flat segments (tapeworms) |
| Lethargic, reluctant to move | Hunched posture, drooping wings |
| Decreased egg production | In broodhens |
You won't always see worms in the droppings. Even if no worms are visible, if symptoms are present, go ahead and deworm.
The Complete 8-Day Protocol
Deworming alone isn't enough. The proper sequence is: Deworm → Bacterial Flush → Rest → Recovery.
Day 1: Deworm (Wormal)
| Time | Action |
|---|---|
| Morning (6–7 AM) | Administer the Wormal tablet orally — ½ tablet for 2-month-old birds, 1 full tablet for adults |
| After | Return to the coop. Provide plain, clean water. |
| Throughout the day | Observe droppings — you may see expelled worms (this is normal, it means the treatment is working). |
| Feeding | Normal feeding schedule. Wormal can be given without fasting. |
Days 2–4: Bacterial Flushing (Premoxil)
| Time | Action |
|---|---|
| Morning (7–8 AM) | Mix Premoxil in water — 5g (1 sachet) per gallon (4L) of water. This is the prevention dose — you're flushing, not treating an active infection. |
| Throughout the day | This is their only water source. Remove all other water. |
| Daily | Prepare fresh Premoxil water every morning. Never reuse yesterday's mix. |
Administer Premoxil for 3 days (Days 2, 3, and 4).
Why morning? Birds are thirstiest in the morning after waking up. They'll drink more medicated water in the morning and midday than in the afternoon.
Day 5: Rest
| Time | Action |
|---|---|
| All day | Plain water only. No medication. Let their systems rest. Normal feeding. |
Days 6–8: Recovery (Vitmin Pro)
| Time | Action |
|---|---|
| Morning (7–8 AM) | Mix Vitmin Pro in water — 10g (2 tsp) per gallon (4L) of water. Double dose for recovery. |
| Throughout the day | This is their drinking water for the day. |
| Feeding | Normal feeding schedule. |
This restores good gut bacteria, vitamins, and minerals lost due to the dewormer and antibiotic.
Day 9+: Back to Normal
Return to the regular Vitmin Pro schedule — 5g per gallon, 3x a week (Mon/Wed/Fri).
Visual Summary: The 8-Day Protocol
| Day | What to Give | Dosage | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Wormal (dewormer) | ½ tablet (2-month-old); 1 tablet (adult) | Morning, orally |
| Day 2 | Premoxil (bacterial flush) | 5g per gallon of water | Morning, in water all day |
| Day 3 | Premoxil | 5g per gallon of water | Morning, in water all day |
| Day 4 | Premoxil | 5g per gallon of water | Morning, in water all day |
| Day 5 | Plain water (rest) | — | All day |
| Day 6 | Vitmin Pro (recovery) | 10g per gallon of water | Morning, in water all day |
| Day 7 | Vitmin Pro | 10g per gallon of water | Morning, in water all day |
| Day 8 | Vitmin Pro | 10g per gallon of water | Morning, in water all day |
| Day 9+ | Back to normal | Vitmin Pro 5g/gallon, 3x/week | — |
How to Administer the Wormal Tablet
- Catch the bird carefully — avoid excessive stress
- Tuck the body under your arm, securing the wings
- Gently press on both sides of the jaw to open the beak
- Place the tablet at the back of the tongue, past the tracheal opening
- Close the beak and stroke the throat downward to help with swallowing
- Offer a small amount of water afterward
Warning: Avoid dropping the tablet into the tracheal opening (the hole at the base of the tongue). If the medication enters the trachea, the bird can choke.
Deworming Schedule
By Age
| Age | Dosage | Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks old | ½ tablet per bird | First deworming — before letting them out on range |
| Stags / Pullets (3–8 months) | ½–1 tablet per bird | Every 2 months |
| Adults (cocks, hens, breeders) | 1 tablet per bird | Every 2 months (maintenance) |
| Heavy infestation | 1 tablet per bird | Every month until cleared |
By Season
| Season | Frequency | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Rainy season (June–November) | Every month or every 3 weeks | Wet soil = faster spread of worm eggs. More intermediate hosts (snails, beetles). |
| Dry season (December–May) | Every 2–3 months | Drier conditions, lower risk. Standard maintenance only. |
Pre-Conditioning / Pre-Breeding
| Situation | Schedule |
|---|---|
| Before conditioning (for fights) | 1 tablet, 30 days before the fight. For heavy infestation, add another tablet 15 days before. |
| Before breeding | Deworm at least 1 month before pairing |
Bi-Monthly Deworming Calendar
Perform the full 8-day protocol (deworm + flush + recovery) every 2 months:
| Month | Action |
|---|---|
| Month 1 | First deworming + bacterial flush + recovery |
| Month 3 | Second deworming + bacterial flush + recovery |
| Month 5 | Third deworming + bacterial flush + recovery |
| Month 7+ | Continue every 2 months indefinitely |
Pro tip: Log your deworming schedule in the FarmHub Health Hub so you get a reminder for the next deworming.
Dewormers Available in the Philippines
| Product | Manufacturer | Active Ingredients | Roundworms | Tapeworms | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wormal | Battlecock | Phenothiazine, Dibutyltin Dilaurate, Piperazine | Yes | Yes | Tablet |
| Vermigo | UNAHCO/Powervet | Levamisole, Niclosamide | Yes | Yes | Caplet |
| Strongard | UNAHCO/Powervet | Praziquantel, Albendazole | Limited | Yes | Tablet |
| Astig | Excellence Intl. | Levamisole HCl, Praziquantel | Yes | Yes | Tablet |
| Vermex 4 | Lakpue (LDI) | Niclosamide, Levamisole, Albendazole, Praziquantel | Yes | Yes | Tablet |
| V-REX | UNAHCO/Powervet | Levamisole HCl 2% | Yes | Yes | Water-soluble powder |
For chicks and large flocks: V-REX (water-soluble) is more convenient — just add it to the water instead of catching each bird individually.
Tip: Don't use the same dewormer every time. Rotate products every 2–3 cycles to prevent the worms from developing resistance.
What to Expect After Deworming
| Timeframe | What Happens |
|---|---|
| First hour | Live roundworms may appear in the droppings (this is normal — the medication paralyzes the worms) |
| 24–48 hours | Droppings will be looser than normal. Tapeworm segments may appear. The bird may be slightly sluggish or weak. |
| 3–7 days | Energy gradually returns. Appetite improves. Droppings normalize. |
| 2 weeks | For heavy infestations, you'll notice the bird gaining weight and the comb regaining color |
Did you see worms in the droppings? That means the dewormer is working — it's a good sign, not a bad one.
Important Reminders
- Don't give Premoxil and Vitmin Pro on the same day. Premoxil first (Days 2–4), rest (Day 5), then Vitmin Pro (Days 6–8).
- Morning is always the best time for medicated water — birds are thirsty after waking up and will drink more.
- Prepare fresh medicated water every day. Never reuse yesterday's mix.
- Remove all other water sources while giving medicated water to ensure the birds drink it.
- Repeat the full protocol every 2 months — one Wormal tablet every 2 months for stags, cocks, and brood stock as regular maintenance.
- Don't use the same dewormer every time — rotate products to prevent worms from developing resistance.
- Clean the coop after deworming — expelled worms and eggs in the droppings can be reingested.
Common Mistakes
- Skipping the bacterial flush — Dying worms release bacteria; Premoxil is needed to clean that up
- Using the same dewormer every time — Worms develop resistance; rotate products
- Not cleaning the coop afterward — Expelled worms and eggs in the droppings can be reingested; clean immediately
- Premoxil and Vitmin Pro on the same day — This shouldn't be done; their effects counteract each other. Premoxil first, rest, then Vitmin Pro.
- Not monitoring droppings — Check whether worms were expelled to know if the treatment was effective
- Deworming a sick bird — Make sure the bird is healthy before deworming; a stressed bird will have a harder time recovering
Disclaimer: This guide is for reference purposes and is based on manufacturer product labels and published poultry health sources. Consult a veterinarian for specific health concerns regarding your flock. Observe the proper withdrawal period before consuming meat or eggs from treated birds.