Are parasites or worms a problem in  your goat herd? Learn how to prevent worms in your goats naturally using herbs!

On my farm I tend to go with the thought of the more natural the better.

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This goes for my organic vegetable and herb gardens and when it comes to caring for my livestock.

I am not against western medicine, or chemicals, completely, and I do keep medications on hand in case I need them, but I always opt for natural as my first choice.

Since parasites are probably one of the biggest problems for goat owners- with worms such as the barber pole worm causing issues with things like anemia or even death- it’s always best to be proactive and work toward prevention so that you never have a huge parasite infestation on your hands.

 

how to prevent parasites in goats using herbs

 

How to Prevent Parasites in Your Goats Naturally

When it comes to prevention of parasites in my goat herd, herbs are my first line of defense. I feed them once a week or a few times a month, as needed and they keep me from having to dose with things like Ivomec or Prohibit.

 

Herbs that Can Help Prevent Herbs in Goats

Herbs can work in a couple of ways when we are talking about controlling or preventing parasites. They can either kill the parasite or create an inhospitable environment for the parasites so that they never become a problem in the first place.

My 2 favorite herbs to feed my goats regularly are:

  • Wormwood (note: do not give to pregnant does)
  • Oregano

I grow both of these myself and give handfuls a few times a month.

If I think a goat might be having issues with worms, I will increase the wormwood and feed it daily for 4-5 days in a row. Usually that does the trick and I don’t need to break out anything stronger.

Other herbs that can help with parasites are:

 

✅ Want to be sure on what parasites you are dealing with? My Busy Homesteader’s Goat Management Binder comes with a free mini-course on how to do your own fecals!

 

wormwood plant in garden

Wormwood can be fed to goats to prevent parasites

 

Pre-Packaged Herbal Dewormers for Goats

Bite Me Squirmy Wormy Bites: If you are looking for a premade product that is ready to feed as is, Bite Me Goat Treats is the thing for you. These are bite sized treats containing herbs to control parasites mixed in.

Molly’s Herbals Herbal Worming Powder: I used Molly’s for years with great luck. It’s my favorite herbal powder to use if I need something more than just the herbs I grow. It’s also the powder I use in the recipe below.

Land of Havilah Parasite Formula:  I haven’t personally used this product, but have heard wonderful thing about them. They make a similar product to Molly’s and can be used in the recipe below- just make sure you read the dosage amount and alter accordingly.

 

herbal deworming balls

 

How to Make Your Own Herbal Deworming Balls for Your Goats

So once you have your herbal powder, what do you do with it so that the goats will actually eat it?

Well you could make a slurry and drench them with it, but I find making dosage balls the best way. The goats get their herbs and they LOVE them and eat them up like a treat.

Here’s my simple recipe for herbal dosage ball to get rid of or control parasites in my goats:

 

What you will need:

Herbal Dewormer powder
Molasses
Rolled Oats
Water

Note: There are no strict measurements when it comes to making herbal deworming balls. The only measurement that really matters is the amount of herbal powder.
For the purpose of this recipe I am using Molly’s Herbal, which has a dose of 1T per goat. The amount of balls that comes from this recipe will depend on which herbs you are using.

 

How to Make Herbal Dosage Balls:

  • Take 1/2 cup (8 Tablespoons) of herbs and place in a bowl.
  • Add 1/2 cup of rolled oats and 2-4 T of molasses and stir
  • Add water a little at a time until the mixture can be formed into balls (get your hands in there and squish them together!) If you add too much water, just add extra oats.
  • Divide into 8 evenly-sized balls
  • Feed immediately or store in the freezer for up to a year.

You can increase or decrease the amounts in this recipe to make the amount of dosage balls you need.

Store the unused balls in a air tight container or Ziploc bag in the freezer.