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

[gavclojak]

Am I doing something wrong, I have had my girls since June. They are ex commercial girls and as soon as I got them I wormed them. They had worms in their poop so it was advised I worm again several weeks later which I did in August.

I am now on day 2 of worming again for the third time since June and again there are worms in the poop.

I ACV them for one week a month and sanitise the floor regularly and poop pick up daily.

Do all chooks have some sort of worm load and is worming just stopping to them being overwhelmed by them or is it possible to clear them completely.

I am worried that between worming periods they still have them and can't be doing them any good.

[daxigirl]

Hi, what wormer are you using. The recommended for poultry is Flubenvet, available as either a mix in powder or pre-mixed Marriages pellets.

[gavclojak]

Yes I should have been clear, firstly I used flubervent powder mixed with the food but am now using marriages pre mixed pellets.

[Egluntyne]

If they free range they will get re infested, as slugs and worms act as intermediate hosts for the blights.

[gavclojak]

Eeeeeks......should I worm more often or will twice yearly keep them healthy.?

They are ex barn girls and came to me with worms! How does that happen?

[jimnpaula]

I do mine every 3 months. Your lovely large chicken area doesn't have a solid floor so all sorts of tasty slugs and bugs are freely and easily dug up, and as Egluntyne says, might be a source of reinfection. Don't change your setup though! You may never totally get rid of the worms but by treating more frequently you will keep the amount they have (the worm burden) down to a level where they don't suffer.

[PoachedPlease]

II wouldn't feel happy worming more than twice a year...all wild creatures have a worm 'burden' and if its kept at a sensible level your chickens can live quite happily without totally eradicating them. Humans are probably the only mammals that don't have worms ! ( there are theories that is why we have so many immune diseases as having worms in your body dampens your immune system.)

 

I guess you have to decide if these particular worms are affecting their health.

 

Xx

[Chickabee]

Why don't you use vermex in between the flubenvent worming. I hate the thought of feeding them those chemicals too often. I use vermex for my dogs so that I don't need to worm them too much

[Egluntyne]

I have never found any of the herbal supplements to be any use at all in ridding a hen of worms. There may be some mild preventative effect but it won't shift a heavy load of worms effectively in my experience.

[Chickabee]

Yes I know, but it is an intestinal cleanser. On it's website it says it is quite safe to use all the time, and along side pharmaceutical treatments. Just a thought

[gavclojak]

The fact I am seeing them in the motion when worming, does that indicate a heavy load? I have four girls(still miss you solo) and I saw about 2/3 worms this morning in the poop tray. I don't really want to overload them with products even if they are herbal supplements. I add ACV and I have to say they seem very healthy, are well covered and are still laying, had three eggs yesterday and two today:)

 

Thanks Paula for the compliment about my enclosure, I added some perches to the logs so they now have a swing with logs and perches coming off at different heights and they LOVE it....am back in love with them after the bullying issue. Hope solo is behaving herself

[Chickabee]

After you've wormed them, why not send off a sample for an egg count? I've done this a couple of times now. Once was clear another showed a small amount of eggs. It's really easy to do

[gavclojak]

That sounds like a plan, I will google that. Thank you.

[PoachedPlease]

Great idea Sonya, they would also say what type of worm it is, which is useful to know. It is odd that they aren't clearing using flubenvet.

 

I am not into expensive herbal remedies either, but garlic in the food does seem to keep them relatively free of lice and worms. My poor girls must smell of it up close!

 

X

[Chickabee]

Look up netex or westgate

[gavclojak]

The consensus seems to be that although flubervent may clear the worms, as they free range the worms/slugs they are gorging themselves on is re infecting them....oh dear

[mimi5]

I do my pekins quarterly with flubenvent, which seems to do the trick....although they hate being in "lock down" with only the pellets!!!

[The Dogmother]

Look up netex or westgate

 

Nettex doesn't do poo testing... they just produce agricultural and poultry products, Retfords is the one you need, although most vets will do it much cheaper. I have to say that I never bother; I just worm quarterly to keep the worm count down to a manageable level and make sure to use Ground Sanitising Powder in the run weekly.

 

If you want to use a gut cleanser, then Orego-Stim is good , as is the Nettex Gut conditioner.

[Chickabee]

Must of got me knickers in a twist . Is bio dry good enough as a ground sanitizer. That's what I use

 

Both nettex and orego stim are liquid form. I have a galvanised drinker so I cant put ACV in it, are the rules the same with these, or do you think it's just because of the reaction with the acid in the vinegar?

[The Dogmother]

BioDry is fine

 

It's only ACV which can't be used in a galvanised drinker, the others will be fine.

[Chickabee]

Thank you

[Grandmashazzie]

I also worm every 12 weeks with Marriages pre mixed,Imuch prefer that to mixing the flubenvet.I have never seen a worm in their droppings.Maybe I need stronger glasses

[The Dogmother]

It can also depend on the worm-load in the ground they free range on, especially if it's seen agricultural use before.

[gavclojak]

Thank you all for your great help, especially the fairy dogmother. I don't think I will bother with the poop test, they seem happy and healthy so I will use that as my yardstick.

To be fair I think I am looking for worms:( have never seen any other than when worming so I assume the worm load isn't too heavy.

It's just the usual back garden the roam in, so no agricultural use.

And FYI I have used the flubervent powder before but am loving the pre loaded pellets....no messing around so happy days.

I am worming them now and every time I go out to see them they look at me with their hopeful eyes and keep nudging my coat pocket for a treat.....I feel well guilty

[The Dogmother]

I wouldn't worry too much if they look healthy, and looking for worms is only going to make you anxious.... the absence of them in poos is no accurate indication that they don't have a worm problem. If you can see them, then the hens obviously have a serious infestation.