Rocky Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 Hello Omletters So, am going to worm my girls soon, I understand the whole "no treats" thing, but my girls are FR and there are so many fallen apples, which I would consider a "treat". Will this be OK? Thanks for your advice again Katie, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 You may get a few 'drunk' birds Rocky. Caused by fermentation in the crop from the natural yeast that occurs on apple skin and the sugars in the fruit. Easy to spot, they just stand motionless looking 'spaced out'. We've had two drunk on pears, so we removed them all, which took hours. No treats means no free ranging. They will be picking up all sorts and will avoid the food, because they can taste the powder on it. In my experience the only way to do a thorough job is to confine them to a run for 7 days. The alternative is to administer Flubenvet as a solution each morning. That's a two person job, is very difficult and carries the risk of suffocation because the thick mixture has got into the airways. I have heard of a day's dose given hidden in a grape, but I can't see how that tackles gapeworm which is in the throat, if they swallow the grape whole. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 When they are free ranging, they will be eating all sorts of bugs, beetles, slugs, snails and vegetation. The manufacturers of Flubenvet advise that the hens should only eat the treated pellets while being treated, so this means no free ranging for the course of the treatment, for it to work properly. I'm afraid I disagree with Beantree's advise about administering the Flubenvet as a solution. The manufacturers advice is clear, and the Flubenvet must be taken throughout the day, via the treated pellets, and not in one 'hit'. It works on the worms, not on the hens, if you see what I mean, and won't work properly if not administered in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. You often see advice about giving it on half a grape etc. the dosage will be hit and miss, and again, it won't work properly, as it is being given in one guesstimated hit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eggasperated Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 My girls free range in the orchard (well within the confines of 50m of electric fence) and although I always clear up fallen fruit I do continue to let them wander during worming. However my two love the mix of Flubenvet, pellets and cod liver oil that I use and, as I weigh out their food each day during worming, I know that they are eating a good amount of pellets. I must be lucky that mine do this, I did used to keep them in during worming but the amount of food eaten wasn't any greater. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 Absolutely agree with Eggers - mine never free range during worming week. I have some fruit trees in the garden, and any windfalls are gathered up and dispensed one at a time - too much fruit isn't good for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acw295 Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 (edited) I don't disagree at all with the other posts but just to add a slightly different pespective - mine have to free range during worming. Our set up is such that at the moment they only have a small run (at the moment we are in a rented house on a farm and I can't put up a WIR, when we move to permanent house will set up a bigger run). They have approx 3/4 acre of garden to roam and they normally are out for between 6 and 12 hours a day. I can't keep them in the small run for 7 days solid - they would probably kill each other (I only have 3 Pekins but they are very lively!). I do limit the free ranging though in worming week to a few hours pm and no treats at all. So far we have had no issues with worms but I do make sure I do it regularly. Ideally yes, no free ranging or treats - in reality for us we do allow some free ranging. I wouldn't though allow mine access to the fallen apples as that will definitely stop them eating enough of the pellets. Edited September 25, 2014 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocky Posted September 25, 2014 Author Share Posted September 25, 2014 Thank you everyone!!! Have decided I will time my worming better next year to avoid fallen apples! Fortunately, our two apples trees only really provide fruit in abundance every other year - so it's only a handful to collect from the lawn, next year will be a different story as we get hundreds of them!!! I am planning on worming next week so slowly reducing their FR time this week on the sly so it's not such a huge shock to them and will probably let them have a roam before bedtime as they are still new pets to our family and I don't want them thinking I am punishing them, but equally need to keep those worms away! Really grateful for all your comments xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
