Fecal Float Questions

[KsKingBee]

And pyrantel is no longer on that extremely short list of approved drugs for chickens. Negative fecals are the best that can be done, short of necropsy, so here we are. Most of the time, fecals will pick up something, although doing fecal egg counts are notoriously unrelated to actual worm burdens.
If only having a crystal ball actually worked!
Mary

I never accept the results of a negative fecal, I have to run it a second time to be sure.

 

[KsKingBee]

I never accept the results of a negative fecal, I have to run it a second time to be sure.

The main reason for this is once early on I ran a fecal and I just KNEW there had to be cocci but I couldn't see any. Came to find out I was out of focus and I was looking on the wrong side of the slide. Stuff happens, we learn and go on.

 

[Folly's place]

Coccidia are harder to see, and then there's giardia, and some others that are worse...
Mary

 

[casportpony]

Coccidia are harder to see, and then there's giardia, and some others that are worse...
Mary

add histomoniasis!

 

[jolenesdad]

 

[Folly's place]

Okay, I mostly do dogs and cats, so --Tritrichomonas-- bad for cattle, and cats. For cats, hardly ever seen on fecals, takes a PCR test sent to a lab.
Mary

 

[Chicalina]

@Chicalina that's pretty funny that you see resistance to the wormer by the keepers!

Just an observation on some of the posts I've seen on BYC. A general reluctance to medicate, not even coccidiostat.

I'm ALL for using something that works IF needed, natural or not. I'm of the mind that you can't prevent what you don't have and also that natural doesn't always mean good.. think arsenic is natural.. I won't ever worm an already ill bird without verifying need.. why throw poisons into their system that may not help them?

You can "prevent what you don't have". That is the very meaning of prevention!! Every wild bird that flies over your coop dropping their poop around where your chickens forage is likely bringing parasites. Not to mention other animals who might walk past in the dead of night. That's common sense.

Just using a broad spectrum wormer without knowing need just continues to put $ in the pockets of big pharma.. Pass. That's one reason I am resistant, though most others mentioned already are my basic truths as well.

I dont care about giving the finger to big pharma. Big pharma doesn't know or care about me. I just care about my flock health. I will buy what I consider to be necessary. I just spent £350 on vet bills for my cat who now needs thyroid drugs for life. Not because of big pharma, but because she is old and falling apart!

Good gut health can be achieved without vermx or other supplements simply through good nutrition (not diminished by excess treats) which supports the entire immune system.

I don't disagree with you on this. But I choose to supplement in this way because it means a) they don't get worms when they are otherwise high risk for doing so, and b) I don't want to spend money on or give them drugs if it can be avoided and I believe prevention is better than cure! (see above)

Consider doing a float before and after your worm prevention treatment and share your findings. Doing it a couple times throughout the year during different seasons could help determine YOUR parasite load.

Now I've heard about this, I might just give it a try! Because I am curious and love a bit of medical science. Not because it is necessary. Though slightly worried what I might find, now that we've had this discussion, lol!

 

[Chicalina]

I'm not very good at this. I did reply to all your points @EggSighted4Life inside the box

 

[Chicalina]

And I forgot to ask, why do you think a drug used for fairly mundane parasite treatment is poison?

 

[Folly's place]

The very definition of 'poison' is some substance that can kill, so accurate. The goal isn't to feed those nasty critters!
Mary