When to worm?

[MrsC]

I have had 6 of my girls 2 weeks and 2 others since Tuesday. When is the best time to worm them?

[Flummery]

They usually say Spring and Autumn - so - coming up.

[MrsC]

Thanks Flum!

[Bramble-Poultry]

Depends - if they are your own birds and you can guarantee their history then 3 times a year I would say spring, summer, autum - 3 months apart.

if they are new birds or you have introduced new birds then after they have settled in worm them, that way you know in your own mind that they are worm free.

we worm monthly here because of the quantities we have and the amount of rescues coming in - but that is over the top for a normal domestic situation.

A worm cycle is roughly 14 days so worming them 3 monthly is just to keep on top of them and stop them getting out of control you will never break the cycle, yes the wormer kills the eggs in the birds systems but not the ones on the ground and those reintroduced by wild birds - even worming monthly we do not break the cycle, however you are worming sufficiently at 3 month intervals to limit the effect they have on the birds.

[Hashette]

What do you use and if it's stuff that is sprinkled on the food, how do you make sure they all get some? We've got some newbies who only get a look in after the established mob have finished munching

[RichmondHens]

Flubenvet is the wormer of choice (avail on line or at feed merchants). Mix in with pellet or mash (you may wish to add water to pellet to help the powder stick). If some birds appear to be hogging the food, divide the food between two feeding bowls to even out the scrum. Some people on here with only a few birds dose an individual grape with a smear of powder but this will only work if you can guarantee each bird will get its dose and not someone else's as well. Flubenvet needs to be given daily for 7 consecutive days.

[Suechooks]

What do you use and if it's stuff that is sprinkled on the food, how do you make sure they all get some? We've got some newbies who only get a look in after the established mob have finished munching

I use Flubenvet. If you've only got a few (I do 12 this way) you can put a little bit on a treat - I use soaked bread as I find the powder sticks well to it- and give each hen a dose each day for 7 days. You use as much as will fit on the tip of a sharp knife. (That's from the Omlet web site) I do it that way twice a year and in between I do it in the food. When I do it in the food I mix a weeks supply of pellets and just give them that ad lib as normal. If they have a lunchtime treat I sprinkle a bit over that as well. Seems to work for me - well my hens that is!
Whops RH types quicker than me!!!

[Bramble-Poultry]

We use flubenvet too, you can get it at the vets too but like always they charge more for it, most of the main "retailers" stock it countrywide and wynnstay, although I have found that if asked they will both reccomend vermex (wonder if they get commision).

In this household its slightly different as there are so many but I mix it with an entire sack of food and just keep topping the feeders up from this sack all week (well actually 2 sacks) it just about lasts us all week. we just have to take the chance that at some point over the day they all get some food out off the feeder and we give nothing else to eat all week to ensure they are not leaving the feed for other things.

I really like Sues idea of giving it individually on a treat - that would work really really well for you if you only have a few, at least you could ensure they definatley had it.

[Suechooks]

I really like Sues idea of giving it individually on a treat - that would work really really well for you if you only have a few, at least you could ensure they definatley had it.

I get them to queue up outside the run gate and only let them in one at a time, then shut them in the hut till everyone is done! That way I ensure everyone gets a dose and no one gets double! They'll happily queue up when its time to go back in the run as they know some goodies are always on offer! In fact if I'm late with their "lunch" I get mugged on the allotment!
I got the Flubenvet on line

[frias]

Sounds as if you have an excellent system Sue. First time I tried it on a grape I found out what awful thieves chooks are and one hen got dosed at least 3 times.
I have to worm monthly as haven't got enough ground to move girls completely although they always get a fresh area of lawn after worming the fixed run is as described. Fixed! Thanks to you Sue I have found the ***** fluid helps to sterilise the ground and hasn't killed the lawn.

[Suechooks]

Sounds as if you have an excellent system Sue. First time I tried it on a grape I found out what awful thieves chooks are and one hen got dosed at least 3 times.
I have to worm monthly as haven't got enough ground to move girls completely although they always get a fresh area of lawn after worming the fixed run is as described. Fixed! Thanks to you Sue I have found the ***** fluid helps to sterilise the ground and hasn't killed the lawn.

Glad to hear your lawn survived!