6 Best Natural Dewormers For Goats On Small Farms Old Farmers Swear By
Manage goat parasites naturally with 6 time-tested dewormers. See what old farmers use, from pumpkin seeds to herbs, to keep their small herds healthy.
You walk out to the pasture and see it: one of your best does is standing off by herself, head low, with a rough-looking coat. It’s a familiar sight that sinks the stomach of any goat keeper, immediately bringing the threat of internal parasites to mind. For generations, small farmers have managed this constant battle not just with chemicals, but with a deep understanding of pasture, animal health, and a toolkit of natural remedies.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. Thank you!
Understanding Goat Parasites and FAMACHA Scoring
The first thing to accept is that all goats have worms. A zero-worm count is not the goal; a healthy goat that can manage its parasite load is. The most dangerous internal parasite for goats in many regions is Haemonchus contortus, the barber pole worm, which causes anemia by feeding on blood and can kill an animal quickly.
This is where FAMACHA scoring becomes an essential skill. It’s a simple, on-farm system for estimating the level of anemia in a goat by checking the color of its lower eyelid membranes. The card shows a scale from a healthy, robust red (1) to a deadly, pale white (5). A pale eyelid means the goat is anemic and losing the fight against its parasite load.
Learning to use the FAMACHA system is non-negotiable for anyone serious about raising goats, especially if you’re leaning on natural methods. It allows you to identify and treat only the animals that need it, which is the cornerstone of preventing chemical dewormer resistance. It shifts your focus from blindly treating the whole herd to strategically supporting the individuals who are struggling.
Hoegger’s Herbal Wormer: A Trusted Herbal Blend
Many old-timers mix their own herbal formulas, but for those with less time, pre-made blends like Hoegger’s Herbal Wormer are a mainstay. This product has been around for decades and is built on a foundation of traditional herbs known for their anthelmintic (parasite-expelling) properties. The blend typically includes wormwood, fennel, and other botanicals intended to create an inhospitable environment in the goat’s digestive tract.
The key to using a blend like this is understanding its role. It’s not a silver bullet that will instantly clear a heavy infestation in a goat with a FAMACHA score of 4 or 5. Instead, most farmers use it as a preventative and a supportive measure. By offering it free-choice or mixing it into feed regularly, you help the goat’s system consistently challenge parasites before they can establish a dangerous foothold.
Think of it less like a medication and more like a powerful nutritional supplement that supports the goat’s own ability to resist parasites. For a herd with good genetics and clean pasture, a consistent herbal blend can be a major piece of the management puzzle. It works best when the parasite pressure isn’t already overwhelming the animal.
Food-Grade Diatomaceous Earth for Daily Use
Get 4lbs of HARRIS Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth, a natural product with no additives, OMRI listed for organic use. Includes a powder duster for easy application.
Diatomaceous Earth (DE) is one of the most talked-about and debated natural options. It’s the fossilized remains of tiny aquatic organisms, and under a microscope, the particles have sharp edges. The theory is that these edges physically damage parasites, causing them to dehydrate and die. Many farmers add a scoop of food-grade DE to their goats’ loose minerals or daily grain ration.
However, it’s important to approach DE with a healthy dose of realism. While it is incredibly effective at killing insects and parasites externally by drying them out, its effectiveness internally is questionable. Once mixed with the moisture of a goat’s rumen and digestive tract, its drying properties are likely neutralized. It probably doesn’t hurt, but it shouldn’t be your primary defense against a serious worm load.
Where DE truly shines is in barn and coop management. Sprinkling it on the barn floor or in bedding can help control moisture, reduce ammonia smell, and kill fly larvae and other external pests. Using it this way reduces the overall parasite pressure on your farm, which is a critical part of any natural deworming strategy.
Styrian Pumpkin Seeds: A High-Cucurbitacin Choice
Pumpkin seeds have long been used as a natural dewormer, but not all seeds are created equal. The effective compound is an amino acid called cucurbitacin, which paralyzes worms, causing them to detach from the intestinal wall so they can be flushed out. Styrian pumpkins are a standout choice because their seeds grow without a hard outer hull and have been bred to contain higher levels of cucurbitacin.
Using pumpkin seeds effectively isn’t about tossing a few to your goats as a treat. It requires a therapeutic dose. The seeds are often ground into a coarse meal and mixed with molasses or a bit of grain to ensure the goat eats enough. This "pumpkin seed mash" is typically given as a targeted treatment when you suspect a worm load is building.
This method is an excellent example of using food as medicine. It’s safe, provides nutritional benefits beyond parasite control (like zinc and fatty acids), and has no risk of creating chemical resistance. The main tradeoff is the effort and the volume of seeds required for a whole herd, making it best suited for small-scale farms where you can treat animals individually.
Black Walnut Hulls: Potent and Used with Caution
When you get into herbs like black walnut, you’re moving from gentle prevention to potent treatment. The green hulls of the black walnut contain a powerful compound called juglone, which is known to be toxic to many organisms, including internal parasites. It’s a heavy hitter that farmers have relied on for generations to knock back a serious worm infestation.
This is not a supplement for daily use. Black walnut is strong and should be used with extreme caution and respect. An incorrect dose can be toxic to the goat, disrupting its gut flora and potentially causing serious harm. It is typically administered as a tincture or dried powder for a short, intensive period—think a few days at most—to address a specific problem identified through FAMACHA scoring or fecal tests.
Because of its potency, many farmers use it as a last-resort natural option before turning to a chemical dewormer. If you choose to use it, start with a very small dose and closely observe your animals. It’s a powerful tool, but one that demands careful handling and a deep understanding of its effects.
Using Garlic as a Preventative Health Booster
Garlic isn’t a dewormer in the traditional sense of killing parasites outright. Instead, it’s a powerful immune system stimulant and a health tonic. The sulfur compounds in garlic are absorbed into the bloodstream and create an environment that is less welcoming to parasites, making it harder for them to take hold.
The best way to use garlic is as a consistent, low-dose preventative. Adding garlic powder to loose minerals or dropping a few crushed fresh cloves into the water trough are easy ways to incorporate it. This regular exposure helps keep your goats’ immune systems primed and ready to fight off challenges on their own.
Don’t expect garlic to save a goat that is already heavily infested and anemic. It won’t. But for maintaining the health of an already stable herd and giving them an extra edge, it’s an invaluable and easy-to-use tool. It’s a perfect example of how natural parasite management is more about building overall health than just attacking the worms.
Wormwood (Artemisia): A Strong Herbal Option
Wormwood, specifically Artemisia absinthium, is one of the most well-known anthelmintic herbs. Its active compound, thujone, is effective at expelling a variety of internal parasites, especially roundworms. Like black walnut, this is a potent herb that should be reserved for treatment, not used as a daily feed additive.
The primary concern with wormwood is its potential for toxicity if used improperly. High doses or prolonged use can be harmful, and it should absolutely be avoided for pregnant or lactating does. It is almost always used in small, controlled amounts as part of a larger herbal formula, which helps to buffer its effects and provide a broader spectrum of action.
Using wormwood requires a "less is more" approach. It’s a tool for a targeted, short-term cleanse when you know there’s a problem. Many herbal deworming recipes call for a 3-5 day course of a wormwood-based blend, followed by a break to allow the animal’s system to recover.
Integrating Natural Methods with Fecal Testing
Relying on natural dewormers without ever checking if they work is like flying blind. The only way to know for sure is through regular fecal testing. This simple diagnostic tool tells you which types of parasites your goats have and gives you a quantitative egg count (FEC), showing how heavy the infestation is.
You don’t need to be a veterinarian to do this. You can collect a few fresh manure pellets and take them to your local vet or mail them to an agricultural lab. The results give you invaluable feedback on your program. Is your pasture rotation working? Is that herbal blend actually keeping egg counts low? A fecal test answers these questions.
Ultimately, a responsible farmer uses every tool available. Natural methods are your first line of defense, FAMACHA scoring is your daily monitoring system, and fecal tests are your periodic report card. If the fecal test shows a dangerously high egg count in a pale, struggling animal, that is the time to use a chemical dewormer. Using chemicals selectively and effectively is a crucial part of a sustainable, long-term strategy to prevent resistance.
Natural parasite control is not about finding a single magic herb, but about building a complete system of resilience. It combines smart pasture management, careful observation, nutritional support, and the targeted use of these time-tested remedies. By treating your animals as individuals and knowing when to intervene, you can raise a healthy, thriving herd the way farmers have for centuries.
