Collapsed egg hanging out of vent

[Wyorp Rock]

May I ask what strength? What brand and amount do you provide yours?

For Extra Calcium, you can use something like this. 1 tablet daily for a week.

 

[azygous]

I've used the petites before in these reproductive issues, and found them not potent enough. Either give two of the petites or use the larger dose calcium citrate 630mg.

 

[rehsanipoor]

I asked for the fecal float but they did the mcmaster by mistake. They said they will rerun the test using the fecal float. I guess they saved the sample??
I'm just wondering if the results will indicate worms or if it will be the same.

 

[azygous]

I doubt it made a difference. Both use the same principle of flotation to expose the worm eggs. The solution in both tests is heavier than the eggs of worms and protozoa, causing these oocytes to float exposed on the surface. As I understand it, the McMaster float test offers more exposure so that more of these can accurately be counted. If anything, the test you got was nearly twice as accurate as the simple fecal float they are likely only doing to humor you. If they saw no worm eggs in the original test, you can be quite assured there are no worms in your chicken.

But, you should submit a new sample as the original was likely all rinsed away when they used it. If you're curious about how these tests work, ask to watch them run it. The simple fecal float takes about twenty minutes as you wait for the oocytes to float and then be counted under a microscope.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

@Wyorp Rock and @azygous are far more knowledgeable and experienced than I am. Always take their advice over mine.

 

[Gypsi]

May I ask what strength? What brand and amount do you provide yours?

be sure the brand you get does NOT contain magnesium, other than that any is fine

 

[rehsanipoor]

Got back the Fecal Float and it also (as you predicted) found no eggs.

Regarding the probiotics, I gave them to the whole flock in mash and also sprinkled some in their water. From a practical standpoint I cannot give it individually so the whole flock is getting the probiotic.

My only question is how often to dose them. I will try to watch them to see how their poops are looking. I have noticed some loose ones and also just finished a round of baths to clean some yucky bottoms.

What are thoughts on frequency of giving the probiotics? Should I just stick with the Probios or also offer yogurt?

 

[azygous]

I give them to the entire flock for a week to firm up inconvenient soupy poop. For a sick chicken, I pop a probiotic pill into them for several days during or just following an illness. You shouldn't need to give probiotics all if the time. Once a chicken establishes good microbes in their gut, they should be good for it unless something comes up to upset that intestinal environment such as an illness and medicine that treats the illness or if the chicken isn't eating well and seems undernourished.

In other words, you don't need to give them all of the time. If you are uncertain and wish to have "an insurance policy" to be sure your chickens are getting the nourishment to support healthy gut microbes, you may feed fermented feed which supplies gut microbes with this nourishment because of the natural (good) yeasts that inhabit fermented feed. Fermenting feed is simple and easy and takes no more time than to pour water over a bucket of dry feed every few days. Lots of folks here ferment their feed and can share their secrets with you.

 

[rehsanipoor]

Got it. Thanks! Which probiotic pills do you use? I only have powder right now.

 

[azygous]

Any will work. Literature insists there is a specific enzyme that poultry guts prefer, but I've never been able to find it. Can't even remember now what it is. I use acidophilus, but the combination of several will work just fine, as well. How you give it is whatever is convenient for you.