4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Forge Cottage]

We have had our three girls since last Sept and they seem fit and fine.

 

Of course now and again one has the squits for a day or so - maybe something they ate - and Mabel has been egg-bound a couple of times. We have also had a few softees but then healthy eggs. Their nestbox and house are regularly cleaned and poo-picked.

 

But we have not had cause to find a poultry vet so far and we have never wormed them.

 

Are we missing something? Do we need to do it anyway as a precaution? How do we know if there are worms present - Can you see them or their eggs? There are no apparent symptoms.

 

We are confused as Flubenvet is a POM, but we would feel a bit silly taking healthy chickens to the vet... We have seen posts clarifying that you cannot, should not buy it unprescribed.

 

But if the chickens don't have worms, under what circumstances would a vet prescribe it?

[Egluntyne]

If they are free ranging, it is inevitable that they will pick up intestinal worms. The ova are dropped by wild birds.....and by the hens themselves as they become infected, via their faeces, and are ingested. Sometimes they pick them up by eating slugs, worms and snails, which act as intermediate hosts for certain parasites.

 

Symptoms include loss of weight, diarrhoea, hunched attitude, going out of lay.

 

I worm my hens routinely every 3-4 months as they free range on the same piece of ground all year round.

 

You don't necessarlily have to go to a vet for Flubenvet, as it is a POM VPS medication as aopposed to a POM V. Some agricultural merchants may supply it as they are often 'Suitably qualified' as are certain online sites.

 

POM-VPS Prescription-only medicine – veterinarian, pharmacist, Suitably Qualified Person.

A medicine for food-producing animals (including horses), to be supplied only on veterinary prescription, which must be prescribed by a veterinarian, pharmacist or SQP (either orally or in writing) and which must be supplied by one of those groups of people in accordance with the prescription. Formerly PML livestock products, MFSX products and a few P products.)

 

POM-V Prescription only medicine – veterinarian. A medicine, to be supplied only on veterinary prescription, which must be prescribed (either orally or in writing) by a veterinarian to animals under his care following a clinical assessment, and which may be supplied by a veterinarian or pharmacist in accordance with the prescription. (Formerly POM products and a few P products.)

[Hen Watch]

I'd had my chickens for 10 months and never wormed them as I had never seen any worms in their poo. However, we had quite a reduction in eggs, so I thought I would just buy some Flubenvet online anyway just in case.

 

I gave them the stuff and to my horror a few days later I found dead worms in their poo and egg laying returned to normal. So since then I routinely worm them every 3/4 months regardless.

 

I bought my Flubenvet online without prescription online.

 

Take a look at this post.

viewtopic.php?f=11&t=46163&view=unread#unread

[Forge Cottage]

Thanks for the quick and thorough info - I had seen the linked post. I will buy some of the Normal from somewhere Proper...

 

Maybe we are just lucky. We have had an average 20 eggs a week since all 3 started firing and as I say, no classic symptoms. If they have worms, they are hiding it well. I do change their feeding area regularly by moving pen around the garden.

 

Anyway, we have nothing to lose - especially as there is no egg withdrawal.

 

Thanks again!

[chocchick]

I would worm every 6 months if there were no problems as a precaution. I'd use flubenvet as you don't need to go to the vet, don't have to stop eating the eggs and it is licensed for poultry. I mix flubenvet into yoghurt as it is hard to know that the chickens have eaten such a tiny amount mixed into many kg of food.

If you have problems then around every 3 months-I do nearer this as my chickens seem prone to the runs and I have had chickens get ill with worms and one died possibly of this. If they get really sick then you may end up going to a vet and paying for a consultation fee (£20), tests (£10s of pounds easily) other wormers (maybe £12) or drugs such as antibiotics (£5) which can be quite costly. The chicken can get very ill with worms-it can be life threatening and is avoidable. The wormers vets prescribe are often licensed for other animals and you can't eat eggs for several days during treatment. If you worm and still have a problem they can be very helpful though, and easier to administer.

[Hen Watch]

Thanks for the quick and thorough info - I had seen the linked post. I will buy some of the Normal from somewhere Proper...

 

Are you worried about no prescription and buying online? I bought online from Petmeds, no prescription, delivered within days. I put a selection of online companies in the post with companies others have mentioned on this forum. I don't want to push Petmeds necessarily but my order was dealt with promptly. However, I have to say I think the popularity of back garden chicken has possibly led to the price now...... wow.... I bought a tub of Flubenvet in Jan 08 for £12.68 and now on the same website it's a whopping £20.30 - quite a price hike in 1 year ... But then a tub will last for years.

[dave2500]

Not sure if maybe I am missing sopmething here.

I was under the impression that by adding 25ml of apple cider vinegar to 1 litre of water then as well as improving the general health of the bird it also kept worms under control.

 

I have had my girls just over a year and never give them drinking water without the apple cider vinegar in it..

 

In fact i spoke to the chicken lady this week (As one of my girls is ill) and she said again that there was no need to worm them if you use ACV.

 

Comments???

 

Cheers

 

Dave

[Christian]

Adding ACV to their water makes the gut slightly more acidic Dave, making it less hospitable to worms. Making ACV more of a homeopathic remedy, similar to VERMX.

 

I used ACV for the first 18 months, so sign of worms, but introduced 3 new hens and within a few weeks, worms were evident in all their droppings. I use Flubenvet now, every 4-5 months.

[dave2500]

Christian,

 

Very interesting.... At the moment I have a poorly chicken.. (Egg problems etc) which is why i actually registered for this site..

I have never noticed signs of worms, or really in all honesty inspected them for such as I thought I was offering them 100% protection with the ACV.

 

However, I have a tub of Flubenvet, and am considering maybe using it..

 

With no signs of worms etc, would it be a case of would you recommend it, or maybe leave it until and if it is needed?

 

Cheers

 

Dave

[GeorgieB]

I would recommend worming them whether you think you have worms or not as they aren't always easy to see, especially if you're having egg problems. I put flubenvet in mashed potato to make sure they ate it, as they love it. Each hen got a pinch each. Not easy to do it that way if you have lots of hens though.

[Forge Cottage]

Thanks for all the feedback and opinion... The other posts have rounded the subject nicely too.

 

I will adapt my routine when the tub arrives. Or as Bill and Ben used to say, Flubedub.

[Egluntyne]

Christian,

 

Very interesting.... At the moment I have a poorly chicken.. (Egg problems etc) which is why i actually registered for this site..

I have never noticed signs of worms, or really in all honesty inspected them for such as I thought I was offering them 100% protection with the ACV.

 

However, I have a tub of Flubenvet, and am considering maybe using it..

 

With no signs of worms etc, would it be a case of would you recommend it, or maybe leave it until and if it is needed?

 

Cheers

 

Dave

 

 

I used Vermex initially and happily thought my hens were worm free, then a couple of them seemed a bit off colour, weren't laying etc, so on the advice of a very experienced chicken keeping friend, I gave them Flubenvet..

 

2 days later the contents of the poo tray spoke volumes.

 

If they are free ranging, especially over the same piece of ground all year round, I would worm them as a matter of routine.

[Budgies]

Just to add to Eglutine's experience. My own vet has seen several hens who are regularly wormed with Verm-x who still have worm infestations, and rather worryingly, several of her clients have reported that worming with Verm-x has caused breathlessness in their chickens.

 

It's only anecdotal evidence of course, but my vet said she'd use Flubenvet only as it's been tested so thoroughly on chickens.

[Chucky Mama]

Here is some worm info that is current veterinary advise that you may find useful and it refers to the increasing number of what is called 'backyard poultry':

 

..birds are probably more at risk of parasitic worms than battery birds would be, due to a number of factors:

-Free range lifestyle and contact with soil

-Increased potential for contact between wild birds and invertebrates

-Tendency to keep older birds for longer

-Feeding from teh ground, rather than a feeder

-Lack of preventative parasite control programme.

 

Sources of infection are:

-COntaminated soil or bedding

- Earthworms, insects and wild birds

-Formite trasmission - on footwear, equipment and other pets.

 

Routine control:

 

For most backyard poultry owners who have not experienced a problem with worms in their flock best practice worming can be achieved through a few simple recommendations

- worm all birlds routinely spring, summer and autumn

- worm all new birds before introducing them to the flcok

- worm before putting poultry out to pasture

 

also

In high infection pressure - treat every 3-4 weeks for the full treatment period

In medium - treat every 6-8 weeks

In low - treat every 8-10 weeks

For routine control treat every 10-12 weeks

 

I hope that this clarifies a few things for those that are unsure

 

This routine is applicable to the use of Flubenvet

(ref Janssen Animal Heath)

[Egluntyne]

In depth article **here**