Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Plum]

Just finished worming my lot with Flubenvet and what do I find in the cube poo tray a blinkin worm. Its red brown colour and pictured next to a 10p coin.

Sorry not a very good picture the light was fading.

 

 

Now can you tell me is this a parasitic worm and if so what? What do I do now?

 

If it's an earthworm how the heck did it get there?.

[Raina]

It looks like an earthworm to me

 

Maybe one of the girls ran into the cube with it and dropped it on the roosting bars?

[Jools]

I haven't been up close and personal to many parasitic worms but if it is one, then it suggests that the Flubenvet is doing what it's meant to be doing.

 

It would obviously be preferable to move them to completely fresh ground, but that's not always possible, in which case you just need to keep up your current worming regime to keep on top of any infestation.

[Plum]

I've got the cube on slabs and put stalosan down though the bedding is damp at present. They come out in the garden for short periods and I poo pick daily. I was thinking of putting lime on the borders and lawn do you know how much to use to keep it clean?

Thanks

[Jools]

You can control the environment in their run by constantly changing the bedding, but you can't do the same in the garden. Lime is traditionally used by poultry keepers a couple of times a year to reduce the acidity of the ground while it's rested.

 

Worms are a poultry fact of life and your job is to keep the burden down as much as possible. I'm guessing that you use Flubenvet every three months which should do the trick, but to be on the safe side, you could use something like ACV or garlic in the drinking water too. Yep, it's another way of making the gut inhospitable to worms in between Flubenvet treatments.

[Plum]

Thanks I do use ACV alternating with lifeguard and garlic in feed but I do wonder if they neutralise each other.

[Jools]

I don't know to be honest (as you know, I use Verm-x), but if my memory serves me right, ACV is best used for a few days at a time, monthly I think, rather than constantly. I expect that garlic added to their food would do the same job as garlic in their water, unless there's a difference between fresh and dried.

[Plum]

There seems to be 2 ways of using it, either low concentration all the time or as you say used intermittently. When I got the girls they stunk ACV but don't seem to with using it on and off. Breeder told me it helps keep down bacteria in drinking water.

[Redwing]

I give ACV one week, lifeguard one week, and plain water two weeks

[Plum]

What do you reckon then Tasha, earthworm or parasite?

[Egluntyne]

It looks more like an earthworm to me, although it isn't easy to tell from the photo.

 

I give mine ACV for a week, plain water for a week lifeguard for a week then plain water again for another week. Easy to remember that way.

 

If you are worried that your hens are still burdened with worms, you can repeat the Flubenvet after 3 weeks.

 

I'd change all the run bedding too, and not scatter treats on the floor of the run as they might ingest more worm eggs when they pick up the treats.

[Plum]

Thanks I'll think of it as an earthworm but will also follow you people's advice and give the run a good clean out this weekend and worm again in 3 weeks and use ACV on and off.

 

The worm perhaps got caught on the newspaper before I put it in the tray at the weekend or perhaps got caught on them dustbathing. The girls are never going to live this down a worm getting past them

[The Dogmother]

I think it's an earthworm too Plum.

 

I worm regularly with either Flubenvet or Panacur (latter not licensed for use on poultry in the UK), give ACV in the water every now and then. Also sprinkle the run with a mix of garden lime and Stalosan (or BioDry) when I clean it out. I get a worm count done twice a year and it is always low enough for me to be happy..

[Chucky Mama]

I am inclined to think that it is an earthworm. Most parasitic worms tend to be transparent and gapeworm tend to be no longer than 1-2cm.

[Plum]

Thanks, I was a bit anxious because Motmot's droppings have been very sloppy even with free water in the tray at night which was why I wormed them. However her droppings haven't improved. I am tossing up whether to try bokashi bran or just send a stool to Retfords. She is very well in herself.

[Jools]

I am tossing up whether to try bokashi bran or just send a stool to Retfords.

 

I'd be inclined to do both, except I use Herban (oregano supplement added to drinking water), not bokashi. That's not a criticism of bokashi, I've just never used it so I can't comment on its effectiveness.

[Plum]

Thanks shall go and google Herban

[chickencam]

My 3 year old Light Sussex seems to do runny poo most od the time regardless of worming or suplements, she just seems that way inclined. she is usually worse when she is laying and last year we had to give her back end a wash then trim back her knickers, so that she could keep herself clean. She is otherwise in fabulous condition and lays well.

[Jools]

Yep, like most animals, they're all different and refuse to read rule books!

[sandyhas3chucks]

i use bokashi and oregostim

amongst other things

[Plum]

Well she's had normal poo when I was watching her so carrying on with regime