Chicken bald back

[stacey30]

Hello,

Currently worming my hens and realising they really don't eat the pellets I put out. Being really strict with them as I have had gapeworm in one hen who is separate from the flock as she got an secondary infection and as on meds in the recovery room (utility!).

I spoke to the vet and was told they have to stay in the pen not free range to ensure they are fully wormed. I've blended in the flubenvet with oil and kept it in the shade but still not eating it They are raging at me for treats and be on the grass but haven't given in! Harsh but I can't risk them getting ill. Worse as its warm and they'd love to be under the big tree in the garden but have to make do with smaller tree ones in the pen!

Any tips to get them to eat it I'm on day 3!!

Thanks x

[Hayleybug]

i think if you stay strong they will eat it eventually, though i know it is hard to not give in! im sure they wont let themselves starve. whether they will have had a full enough dose or not though im not sure. hopefully someone with more experience will be along shortly with better advice! i know that in some cases eg with broody hens you can dose a grape but im not sure its recommended unless in dire straits.

[Sandychick]

I'm worming mine at the moment and they have no idea they are eating Flubenvet and consume the same as usual. Do they usually eat the pellets? If they have nothing else to eat, are you saying that they haven't eaten anything for 3 days?? It would be odd for chickens to starve themselves when they have pellets to eat.

 

If all else fails, you could try putting a dab of flubenvet on a grape or half cherry tomato and feeding it that way. Can be difficult making sure they all get one each though.There is usually a greedy hen who will end up with two I think it is preferable to dose their feed - that way they get the correct amount proportional to their weight (little hens eat less etc).

[redsunset]

Don't know about your lot but I recently got pellets delivered by mistake instead of mash and my girls turn their beaks up at it in disgust, so I mixed it in with the mash I had left and added hot water to make 'ususal' porridge mash out of them.....happy chooks fooled?! Are you allowed to add hot water to the worming pellets make it a mash, or is that a no-no? If possible it may make them think they have something new and wolf it down? Just a thought as they love warm mushy food?......or maybe it's just my lot being fusspots!

[stacey30]

They have given in and started to eat the pellets! I think it's more of the fact I let them free range and of course they'd rather eat my plants than pellets but they aren't impressed with me at all

I'm dampening some of the food down at the end of the day just to get it finished as it would be wasted otherwise.

Many thanks for your advice