How Quickly Does Albendazole Work?

[ajayb]

I came back to chicken keeping last year after a year's break & I now remember what I found so frustrating last time around: worming!

 

My hens are free range on a 4 acre small holding & I can't keep them penned in on a non-grassed area for a week on food dosed with flubenol. I find xeno drops hopelessly inaccurate to dispense & would like to properly treat my hens twice a year via solution administered by mouth via a syringe (as I do with my sheep).

 

I've seen Panacur oral suspension for dogs & cats suggested elsewhere & would like to know which product (?2.5%) & what dosage / frequency for year old hens & 6 week old chicks please.

 

I will observe 10-14 days egg withdrawal & my hens aren't destined for the table.

 

(With all due respect to flubenol & xeno devotees please don't tell me to stick with them as they don't work for me!)

 

Thanks

Edited March 27, 2012 by Guest

[Chucky Mama]

People do use Panacur but it doesn't kill all poultry worms. Whilst not the best way to worm you could dose them with Flubenvet using the grape method. It is less accurate and not the recommended method of dosing but it sounds like you are going to have to compromise a little.

[The Dogmother]

I was recommended Panacur in the past by my vet - he prescribed the 10% small animal suspension. As CM has said though it doesn't treat some poultry worms and Flubenvet is your best bet.

[ajayb]

Thanks both! Why doesn't flubenol/vet come in a suspension form? With so many chicken hobbyists & free-rangers there would be a ready market ...

 

Ps at what age can chicks first be wormed?

[The Dogmother]

I worm any new hatchers from 16 weeks of age.

[Chucky Mama]

Thanks both! Why doesn't flubenol/vet come in a suspension form? With so many chicken hobbyists & free-rangers there would be a ready market ...

 

For it to work effectively it needs to be fed in small amounts over a period of time. I suspect if it was possible to dose in one go there would have to be a withdrawal period as the dose rate of medication would have to be so high.

[ajayb]

I'd happily accept the egg withdrawal period for the peace of mind of knowing that each hen had received an effective dose of medication without restriction from their natural routine ...

[The Dogmother]

It is designed to be fed over the course of a day (as CM has said) because that s how it is most effective. If it is used as per instructions, then it is effective, and restriction to that feed is a small inconvenience for effective worming.