Solitary chicken - need advice

[Kittycat]

I'm thinking about how to go about worming my chooks and have read the thread under the Frequently Asked Questions. I see that Claret has used a type of Ivermectin spot on treatment and also, from other forums, that some people use Frontline.

 

I already use Frontline on my cat and dog and would much prefer to go down the 'spot on' treatment with the chooks as if there is one treatment that can deal with worms, lice, mites etc all in one go and that is easily applied, it seems like a no brainer to me.

 

However, I realise that with chickens it's a bit different because we are eating their eggs so I just wondered how many of you use spot on products, if so, what and where you get it from and also, whether you have continued to eat the eggs (and survived ) or have erred on the safe side and done an egg withdrawal period

[The Dogmother]

You can use them under the supervision/recommendation of your vet, but you need to be aware that they aren't licenecd for use on poultry in the UK.

 

The active ingredients are different, and a vet will always recommend egg withdrawal. Having said that, I have been told the Ivermectin in used on humans in some countries.

 

If you are at all concerned, you ought to withdraw the eggs from human consumption as recommended.

[Gamebird]

I use Xeno 200 which is Ivermectin based. I give about 7 sprays per bird on the back of their necks.

 

As Claret says, it is not licenced for poultry but I know that Ivermectin is used as a human wormer in third world countries. I have always eaten their eggs during this period and suffered no ill effects (well, none that I have noticed ) but the risk is entirely yours.

 

So far my girls haven't had any problems with lice or worms. However, I don't think Xeno 200 is effective against Gapeworm. A double dose of Flubenvet should sort that out when the need arises.

[Kittycat]

Thanks Sas

 

How often do you retreat? Also, I assume the spray has to make contact with the skin under the feathers?

[Gamebird]

I use Xeno 200 about every 4 months.

 

I spray them right next to their skin, carefully parting the feathers for access. I spray each chicken about 7 times in 2 different places on the neck so the liquid gets a chance to soak in rather than run off.

 

I do it about an hour after they have gone to bed when they are sleepy and easy to handle.