Levamisole for Birds: Uses, Safety, and What You Need to Know

When you’re raising chickens, pigeons, or other backyard birds, levamisole, a broad-spectrum anthelmintic drug used to treat parasitic worm infections in animals. Also known as levamisole hydrochloride, it’s one of the few dewormers proven effective against roundworms and hookworms in birds. Unlike some older treatments, levamisole works quickly, doesn’t require multiple doses, and is relatively safe when used correctly. But using it wrong can hurt your flock—especially if you guess the dose or mix it with the wrong feed.

Levamisole isn’t just for dogs or cattle. It’s been used in poultry and pet birds for decades because it targets the most common internal parasites: ascarids, large roundworms that live in the intestines and rob birds of nutrients, and gapeworms, thread-like worms that lodge in the trachea and cause gasping or head shaking. These parasites spread through contaminated soil, water, or infected insects. If your bird is losing weight, has runny droppings, or seems lethargic even with good feed, worms could be the hidden cause.

Getting the dose right matters. For chickens, the typical oral dose is 10–20 mg per kg of body weight, usually given once and repeated after 10–14 days if needed. You can mix it in drinking water or give it as a paste, but always measure carefully—too much can cause tremors or even death. Never use human levamisole tablets without veterinary guidance; they’re not formulated for birds. Also, avoid giving it to laying hens unless you’re willing to throw out eggs for at least 7 days, since the drug can pass into the eggs.

Some bird owners skip testing and just treat regularly, but that’s risky. Overuse leads to resistant worms and weakens your birds’ immune systems. Always confirm worms with a fecal test before treating. And if you’re treating a mixed flock—chickens, ducks, and pigeons—remember that ducks and waterfowl often need different dosing. Levamisole is not approved for all species, and some birds, like parrots, are more sensitive.

What you won’t find in most guides is how levamisole helps beyond deworming. Studies show it can temporarily boost immune response in stressed birds, which is why some poultry farmers use it during heat stress or after transport. But that’s an off-label use, and it shouldn’t replace good nutrition or clean housing. Clean coops, fresh water, and rotating grazing areas are still your best defense.

There are alternatives—fenbendazole, pyrantel, and ivermectin—but levamisole remains popular because it’s cheap, easy to find, and works fast. Just don’t treat blindly. Know your bird’s weight. Know the parasite. Know the withdrawal time. And when in doubt, talk to a vet who’s worked with birds before. The posts below cover real cases, dosing charts, side effect reports, and how to spot worms before your flock crashes. You’ll find what actually works—not just theory, but what’s been tested in backyard pens and small farms.