Solitary chicken - need advice

[MedusA]

I'm sure that my antics with worming the girls yesterday would have won me £250 on "You've Been Framed".

 

I decided to go with the half-a-grape-and-a-smidge-of-Flubenvet method.

 

The three older girls pecked at me mercilessly, as they knew I had treats, but I managed to get each of them to take their allotted dose, relatively easily and without too much injury.

 

Then I tried the Silkies, who are still in the eglu run being separated. I opened their door a crack and Squib took hers and ran into the eglu to hide from Muggle. "One down" I thought, shutting her in there for a bit. But then Treacle barged the door and got into the run, and took Muggle's dose and tried to eat the entire contents of their Grub (Grower's pellets). Luckily she was more interested in eating than attacking the babies, and I managed to boot her out after much grabbing and chasing.

 

Of course I then had to go and get Muggle another dosed grape, so took some plain ones to distract the bigger girls, which worked. Muggle got her dose at last. Then I thought I'd better check that Squib hadn't dropped her dose through the roosting bars in the eglu, pulled out the droppings tray and of course, there was Squib's grape. I went to pick it up, but Scully beat me to it! I had to then go and get Squib another dosed grape, and managed to give it to her. But that also means Treacle and Scully had double doses yesterday.

 

Now I've got another 6 days of this. I don't think my nerves can cope. Any other suggestions?

[Laura & CTB]

Sounds hillarious - can you record the next episode please?

 

Seriously though what you have to do is to get them to line up in an orderly manner as they come out from the run - and tell them no pushing in!

 

[WitchHazel]

I wish I'd seen that!

 

Are your chooks happy to eat treats while being held?

 

I do mine by picking each chook up, taking her out of the run, and then offering a bowl of treats, in which is the grape/sweetcorn covered flubenvet.

 

When she's eaten it all, I get the second chicken out, and give offer her a bowl of flubenvet laced treats.

 

And then the third.

 

(I take out three bowls ready prepared).

 

It takes a few mins in total, but works well for us.

[MedusA]

Ooooh! Thanks WitchHazel. I might try that suggestion. Laura's idea, on the other hand, I have doubts about.

[Chickybaby]

I had the same problem with flubenvet, nothing would work so I switched over to Panacur and now use it all the time.

[Egluntyne]

I've never had any luck with that method.

 

I've always over dosed three and not treated 5, so it's mixed with their feed now.

 

Your story is hilarious MedusA.

[MedusA]

Yesterday was a straightforward pick-up-individual-chicken-and-give-dosed-grape exercise with the big girls yesterday, but a fiasco with the babies, where Squib (soon to be known as Squit) got 3 doses.

 

Today, however, was a triumph of success!

 

Thank you WitchHazel. I think I've got it covered now.

 

If you mix it in with their feed, how do you know who got what dose, Egluntine?

[Smiler]

My OH is and has been a soap addict for years . He is turning chook addict now..... ......well he thinks chook free range time and worming is funnier and its real life.

I rang the vet and.... yeah put it in their water and all will be fine........drove to fetch the stuff......1ml to be given to each chook......i asked about the water thing, no straight down their little throats, mmmmmm! Que the 1st episode!!!

[Egluntyne]

If you mix it in with their feed, how do you know who got what dose, Egluntine?

 

If you mix it thoroughly......not easy with such a small amount of powder....they all eat some.

 

I have never suspected that any of them have worms....no symptoms or signs....so I am assuming that it works.

 

I do worm them every three months though.

[superjules]

I do the same as Egluntine - it's just too much hassle trying to dose 8 chooks when some are more, er.....let's just say "forward when it comes to food", than others!

 

You story did make me laugh though - I think we've all been there!

[Olly]

yup - I'm on day 3 of Flubenvet-and-grapes, and it's just like you describe! The first couple of hens are easy, but after that it's trying to give the dummy (undosed) grape to the greediest hens, and making sure the dosed one is picked up by the one it's meant for.

 

And two of my gingernuts are very hard to tell apart, so I'm never quite sure which one's had it! I might try mixing it with the feed next time, I'm not sure I can stand another four days of this.

 

Maybe I could make a sort of corral with the Omlet netting, and separate them ... perhaps I could get the cat to help with the herding ... can you tell I'm desperate!

[Fabergé]

I too gave my lot their first course of Flubenvet a few weeks ago.

I used the individual grapes method & it was a NIGHTMARE! (although if I'd been watching rather than feeding, it would have been hilarious!)

It involved much chasing of chickens who had stolen dosed grapes to avoid double dosing, dosing sultanas for the bantam who wouldn't eat a grape. With 6 of them it was hard work!

If we get any more, I can't bear to imagine what it will be like....

Thank goodness it doesn't have to done too frequently

[MedusA]

I'm feeling rather pleased with myself today, because it all went like clockwork. This Flubenvet thingy is a doddle!

[moomin]

OMG this all sounds like a nightmare!! Thank goodness I've only got 2!!