counturchickens Posted May 7, 2011 Share Posted May 7, 2011 We've just introduced 3 new ex batts to 2 which we had last year. The intros have gone pretty well, apart from 2 of the newbies having impacted crops following eating too much! All sorted now thanks to brilliant advice from the forum. Anyway, they are all being fed on ex batt mash and pellets, but we do give treats every evening, greens, dried mealworms or sweetcorn. The oldest 2 sit and wait by the back door for treat time! Just about to start a course of flubenvet, and I understand they are not supposed to have any other food at all, so I am going to have very grumpy hens! Have used verm x before, and no apparent worms, but after a couple of chicken health scares and reading forum thought should try flubenvet. Have I just spoilt them too much? They eat plenty of 'proper' food, but love their treats, and tbh I probably enjoy treat time as much as they do! I am not looking forward to a week with no treats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majuka Posted May 7, 2011 Share Posted May 7, 2011 If you have a look though the flubenvet threads you'll see that a lot of people have exactly the same worries as you! As you say, you are meant to withold the treats so that the hens get their fill of the medicated pellets but I think a lot of us still give some treats because the girls are so used to getting them. Not sure how much you are giving them but maybe reducing the quantities of treats and only give the treats later in the day will make sure they get their fill of the medicated pellets? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
counturchickens Posted May 7, 2011 Author Share Posted May 7, 2011 Sounds like I am not the only soft hearted one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majuka Posted May 7, 2011 Share Posted May 7, 2011 Sounds like I am not the only soft hearted one! No, you're not - our girls know exactly how to manipulate so many of us Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted May 7, 2011 Share Posted May 7, 2011 I'm guilty too When worming I leave them in the run all day and then let then out for a hour before bedtime to fr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickanne Posted May 7, 2011 Share Posted May 7, 2011 Since keeping hens I have discovered that you can cut a grape into 8 or 10 pieces! That's 10 little rewards for the food value of one grape - so they can have treats without losing their appetite Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted May 7, 2011 Share Posted May 7, 2011 Depending on the type of treat that you are planning to give, and how accurate your scales are (and how good at maths you are) you could medicated a tub of treats with Flubenvet to give them during their week of worming. To be honest, as I consider mine at low risk of worms, I still allow free ranging during their week of worming. I routinely worm every 3-4 months. If ever things changed and I considered they were high risk or I had seen evidence of worms I would keep them in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
counturchickens Posted May 7, 2011 Author Share Posted May 7, 2011 Thanks all, I am thinking of letting them out in the evening, with just a dried mealworms as a little treat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doctors girls Posted May 7, 2011 Share Posted May 7, 2011 i am also worming my chooks for the first time with flubenvet and told the wife no treats for 7 days and her reply was well you are going to have grumpy chickens then and i hope they go on strike and not lay any eggs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
