Stargazer99 Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 I have two questions can chickens eat bananas? I am new to chicken keeping and have 4 lovely ladies who are all laying well. Also I read somewhere that you should not worm chickens unless they have worms. I was under the impression that they should be done every 3 months. Confused now!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 You must set up a good worming regime and stick to it, namely worm every three months with Flubervent, you can use the powder and mix with the feed or you can buy the pre measured pellets and just feed them that. you must feed that feed alone and worm for a full week. During that time they must have no treats and no free-ranging. All hens that have access to grass or dirt will have a worm burden of some sort and worming them regularly will lessen that burden and keep your girls healthy. You can use a gut conditioner between worming but it does not act as a wormer and the only wormer you should use or trust is flubenvet. I use a ivermectin (not licenced for use on poultry) based spot on every three months too as a preventative for lice/ticks/bugs/mites/worms/etc I also keep a medicine book to remind me when they are due and what they have been given I give my hens a pear or the odd apple once a week but have not tried a banana so not sure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stargazer99 Posted April 25, 2015 Author Share Posted April 25, 2015 Thanks for the advice. I have got the pellets with the wormer already added. Not looking forward to the no treats as the girls nearly flatten me when I appear with the treat bowl each day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 Yep indeed, I think we all hate the worming week....if they don't fill themselves up on the worming pellets and have have treats then it becomes ineffective....but there little expectant faces when they see you!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 As said, you are best to worm with Flubenvet powder or pellets which it looks like you're already on top of so well done Personally I don't worm every 3 months, I would probably say once a year but get a Fecal Worm Egg Count done to see if they actually need doing; worming without the need can increase resistance further down the line. You can buy a test kit online where you collect a representative sample from the flock and send it for testing, such as this one from Westgate Labs or you could ask your local vets. I would test the flock rather than individual birds to keep costs down, plus if one has worm eggs they will all need treating. Banana as is high in sugar so I would maybe stick to sweetcorn, tomatoes, grapes and melon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 Mine get banana once in a blue moon. They love it. It's not something I would give them regularly though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 Excellent advice re worming above. I'd avoid bananas; they are 'designed' to eat grains, seeds, berries and bugs; they can't metabolise sugar, salt or processed food, so best to avoid it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/chicken-treat-chart-the-best-treats-for-backyard-chickens I find this very useful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 Not sure Defra would be happy about feeding cooked chicken! LOL! But I want to try crickets - that could be fun. I picked a pea shoot and offered it to mine yesterday. I was given the snooty beak in the air as she turned and waddled out. I felt sure the fat orpie would guzzle it in seconds - she eats anything and everything else!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
