Answer to the Delaware Dilemma

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
Beth, if you DO see worms in their poop it is later on, and a heavy load by then. I wormed everyone today with Ivermectin pour on.

I have noticed the same as you, that my layers looked much better before than they do now. The younger ones look fine (just at point of lay), but I was wondering about the older gals. I have tried everything I know .... vitamins, extra protein, probiotics, etc... what next? Why aren't they as plump looking as they were?

I know what you mean. My older hens also looked really thin, but the new layers looked nice and healthy. Like the older hens couldn't keep on weight, but they were eating fine. I decided to worm them with Wazine, but I'd like to use the Ivermectin as the follow up worming in 2 months.

I can say that they are looking better weight wise now, and they are certainly laying better. I never saw any worms either. Now all they need is a good hard molt. Their feathers are looking a bit tattered.

Beth, you can worm chicks with Wazine, but I'm not sure about the Ivermectin. There is someone here (3horses I think) that recommends Wazine first, then follow up with Ivermectin 2 months later. It's the most information I found on worming, so that's what I went with.

 

[speckledhen]

I just recently found out that Valbazen worms in a such a way that it will never clog their system, plus it gets every worm a chicken can get. It starves the worms over a several day period. Pine Grove, someone who is extremely knowledgeable, was discussing this with me recently.

Mine lose weight just from the molt, especially as they get older. Seems really hard on them. Some become almost skeletal and need lots of extra protein.

 

[joletabey]

And mine are just starting to molt- there is a light drift of white in the run. . . . .I will google the Valbazen and see about that- thanks, Cyn. I wish now I would have kept a better record of who was the most bowl shaped - Eleanor, Cora, Marianne. . . . .egads. I remember Janie and Lizzie were slender birds. And Janie and Lizzie are the ones who need hen saddles - I guess I better pull up some pictures and see what Alice, Georgine and Jeanette used to look like.
Actually, the Wazine sort of scares me since it says to NOT use it on poultry used for egg production and doesn't put a time limit on it. Happychooks- how long did you wait on the eggs?

I think a big order of salmon and brown rice would be nice for lunch - YUMMM!

 

[speckledhen]

Beth, the FDA or whoever is in charge of "keeping us safe" (I say that with sarcasm) has not approved any of the wormers for egg-producing chickens, mainly because commercial flocks rarely, if ever, touch the ground and have no need for wormers. They are not geared for the backyard flock owner/ breeder.

 

[kathyinmo]

I bought a bottle of Valbazen, but I have misplaced it.

Darn it! That is what I had planned to use.

Kim, the followup on the Wazine (with the Ivermectin) is 2 weeks, not months.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=2525157#p2525157

 

[joletabey]

I just googled the Valbazen and you have to put it down their throats. I am miserably unsuccessful with that, so back me up to the pour ons- how much do you use on a chicken, and do you put it on with an eye dropper or syringe? On the back of the neck? Cynthia, you use something besides Ivermec that you mentioned before. I wrote it down and lost it.

NEVER MIND- I just saw Kathy's link and recovered the info. I hate growing old.....my memory is ossified.

Wazine just goes in their water, and I know people on this site have said no eggs for two weeks. My feed store man said they never bothered with that and just ate the eggs. Which scares me worse!

 

[kathyinmo]

Beth, for the oral Valbazen you can just put the drops on a piece of bread, and give it that way I think.

 

[joletabey]

Thank you, Kathy, that is logical. Why can't I think of those things? Ossified, ossified.

 

[kathyinmo]

If you decide to go with the Ivermectin pour on, the full instructions are on that thread I posted above. It is really a very good thread. I hope to locate my missing bottle of Valbazen and use it the next time! LOL

By the way, Ivermectin also kills mites and lice.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Well I guess I screwed that up with the re-treat.

But I dunno, going without eggs for a month? 2 weeks was hard enough!

Beth, I tossed the eggs for 14 days.