Whew... good Lord that's way too much to read almost ...much less to get into. So, I'm going to try to be as straight and to the point as I can with it making any sense. As for the Chicken Chick (of whom I have mentioned that I AM NOT FOND OF and usually NEVER agree with NEARLY ANYTHING she writes),but in this case, she did post, and you made note of this up there somewhere? (but for some reason it's not letting me copy and paste(?)),she did state that she "consulted with board certified vets and pathogists in writing this article".. So I don't understand why you feel this has not come from a vet??? Are you feeling she wrote what she felt and just added that to make it look good??? She also goes on to say that most of the info is even regularly distributed by the vets, however by law SHE isn't authorized to distribute this out. So, that was enough for me, being as its also the usual dose I've seen repeatedly recommended by everyone pretty much on this site and by my vet, other than yourself. Which I'm not saying you're wrong BTW!!! Who the heck am I to say that!!! Lol Now THAT would be a joke. What I'm saying is THIS is the dose everyone seems to go with. THAT'S ALL Kathy. That is all I'm saying. You could be right, they could be right.. who knows??? To me,it's not so big an issue if what I give WORKS!!! I just NEED IT TO WORK!!!
Secondly, a friend and other source who is actually very much affiliated with BYC,thus why I will not name,and who is extremely knowledgeable about chickens, and whom I trust fully with the lives of my flock, has also advised me to give the 1/2ml dose and for 3 days on 10 off then repeat.. not the 5 days only.
Thirdly, my personal vet for my other animals, (though not an "avian" vet himself), GAVE ME a syringe filled with about 10ml of Safeguard paste from his own stock, then asked his "avian" vet, right in front of me, what the correct dose would be for my hen, (who at that time was weighing only 4.6lbs so she def was a bit under 5lbs having been so sick!!??) and she replied with the same 1/2ml dose, 3 days on, 10 days off then repeat. That's what she said.
Lastly, no I don't know what type worms she had sadly, but I can tell you they certainly were not "large roundworms" as nothing like this was visible in any of her poop, as they are supposed to be, aren't they??? I'm not sure of that though??? I did read it somewhere though and in fact I think you may have also mentioned it.. not sure.
Sadly a fecal was done, but it was way prior to finding out about giving the Safeguard, the very probable worm infestation etc etc. And pls note, this is IF you could call it a fecal exam, as the quack of a vet I took the "sample" to instructed me to just pick up all the poop in their run and put in a jar and bring it in, never bothering to tell me it had to be collected, brought in and prepared for testing all within 30 minutes of being expelled by the hen!!!
Duh... MY FAULT THOUGH for not doing my homework and simply TRUSTING someone who calls himself a vet!!! Funny though.. he didn't forget to charge me for that fecal.. hmmmm interesting???
Oh and also BTW, this is what I was told as to those results of that fecal test.. word for word by this fool:
"The only thing showing up in the fecal was a Tapeworm, which they are very common in ALL backyard chickens and we don't even treat them as they don't cause any real problems"!!! I KID YOU NOT... SWEAR ON MY LIFE this is what I was told!!!
So again, I thank God for my friend who has also had me immediately treat for the Tapes with Zimecterin Gold. This treatment has only been done in the 1st stage so far and in 10 days from the 1st of the 2 day treatment will be treated again for 2 more days. However after only a few days after treating for those first 2 days, I am suddenly again seeing a ton of poop under where they each roost. For a long time I kept trying to figure out WHY they'd go to roost with their crops so full I thought they'd burst, yet there was almost NO poop under them in the mornings like there always used to be??? Plus with the way she was eating, (the one with the serious weight loss and other type worms also I'm referring to), was no longer gaining any weight, and even the new juvenile Aussie seemed to be at a kind of standstill or actually she was gaining but just very very little considering the way she too was eating,and how she had been gaining when we first got her. But now AGAIN they are BOTH gaining steadily. So this tells me the treatment IS doing something and I can't wait to be done with it and have those nasty things all gone.
So... that's my story and I'm stickin to it.. Lol I'm kidding.. Just making a little joke. Honestly, speaking though Kathy, I know you know your stuff and I also fully trust your judgement and would like to know that should I need your help one day again, that I can count on your help. I'm not here to make enemies... I'm just telling you MY story and how it all went down for me. I'm certain you're doing all you can to help this poor lady who I can now see IS in fact having some very sad and very serious issues with her flock and it truly breaks my heart and I'm praying you can get these birds well for her. I love all animals and get sick inside when I hear of any being sick. Sooooo I wish you the very best of luck in helping her and best of luck to you with your flock Ladyearth!!! May they ALL get well!!!
God bless and all my best to all the chicken and all animal lovers out there.
D
