What makes a chicken coop easy to live with?

[Groovychook]

Hello, me again!

 

Just about to order all my chickeny needs but am confused about whether to get flubenvet or vermex. I'm presuming that they do the same thing but that vermex is a more natural product? I'm probably completely wrong!

 

Just wondered what your preferences are...

 

Also, we're planning to get 6 chooks - am I going to be needing a great big tub of diatomaceous earth? Not sure how much I'll be using...

xx

[The Dogmother]

There are various threads about this on the forum, but in summary, Verm-x is indeed more natural, but is considered by most vets and chicken keeperss to not be much cop for worming. Most people use Flubenvet.

 

You will find plenty of information about all this in the FAQ section and various threads scattered around the forum.

 

Have fun with your chooks.

[chelsea]

I agree with Claret,

 

Verm-x is the natural choice but after lots of threads I have seen on here a lot of people who use Verm-x find that their chickens still have worms after using it.

 

I use Flubenvet, I find it easy to use and after the initial outlay on a tub it will last your for years.

[quickcluck]

Me too, it seems that lots of henny mummies have tried the vermin X and then had to resort to flubenvet anyway...

 

So maybe you should cut out the middle man!

[Egluntyne]

I wouldn't waste your money on Verm-X.

 

I spent about £28 on it and my hens were full of worms.

 

As soon ans I treated them with Flubenvet they were fine.

[Karen Pimlott]

Verm -X is great to give as a matainence measure once birds have been treated with fulubnevet or simlilar I find it great & natural too so no egg withdrawal.

 

I dont have a problem with worms at all.

[Egluntyne]

Neither do I now that I use Flubenvet routinely every 4 months or so.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I use Flubenvet too (never tried Vermex - followed forum advice!)

 

I've got a Diatom container like this. I've been using it since October last year and I'd say there's about a 1/3 left (although it's a very fine powder, so settles a lot in the container).

[Hen Watch]

I use Flubenvet every 4 months. (never tried Verm-X so can't comment).

 

At about £15 for a 240g tub it is an outlay, but bear in mind dose is 1g per hen (given over 7 days - no egg withdrawal) so it will last ages.

 

Diatom is good. Can be put in their food to eat, shake on their feathers, in dustbath, around roosting bars etc.

[Groovychook]

Thanks everybody for your advise.... there's so much I've got to learn about this chicken keeping business!

 

Thanks to Ain't "Ooops, word censored!"ody Here, too for this valuable information...

 

I use Flubenvet too (never tried Vermex - followed forum advice!)

 

I've got a Diatom container like this. I've been using it since October last year and I'd say there's about a 1/3 left (although it's a very fine powder, so settles a lot in the container).

 

... was on the verge of ordering a great big tub until I saw that!!

 

xx

[MedusA]

I use Flubenvet, every few months. A little smidge on half a grape and I know they've had their dose.

 

I did buy Verm-X once, but having browsed the forum, decided to go for Flubenvet instead. There is no egg-withdrawal period, so It was worth it for the piece of mind.

 

I also use Diatom intermittantly.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

... was on the verge of ordering a great big tub until I saw that!!

 

I suppose it depends what you're planning to use it for. If you plan to sprinkle it all over your henhouse (or eglu?) every couple of days, feed it to your girls daily and dust their armpits and botties regularly, perhaps you would get through a huge tub .

 

I just dust it along the roosting bar ends once a week and dust the girls every month or so when I remember.

 

I suppose if you got one the size of mine, you'd soon know if you were getting through it quickly and could buy the big tub .

[Maccbean]

... was on the verge of ordering a great big tub until I saw that!!

 

I suppose if you got one the size of mine, you'd soon know if you were getting through it quickly and could buy the big tub .

 

I agree, I've had my massive tub a month and I'm really getting through it using it in their food, sprinking the cube with it, and mixing it in their dust bath. If you're ordering from one place anyway, it might be the economical solution.

[Fur 'n' Feathers]

We use Vermex as it instructs on a 4 weekly basis. We understand it is a preventative. We've not used Flubenvet and wouldn't unless they show signs of getting worms. So far there have been no signs that would indicate they have worms - health or poo-wise.

 

If they got worms than we would treat them with Flubenvet, but we don't see the need otherwise. We also use Diatom in their dust bath, which they eat!!! Another preventative. And we give cider vinegar in their water to keep their gut slightly acid & hostile to parasites.

[Groovychook]

Hi Fur 'n' Feathers!

 

Thanks for your advice... Just wanted to say how much I love that photo of your Rascal & chooks!!

xx

[Christian]

I used VermX, apple cider vinegar, and diatom religiously for a year and they still got worms.

 

I use Flubenvet now and no problems since. It is important to remember that quite often you can't see the worms until they are really bad.