Is it time to worm again??

[Reurra]

One of my hens, either Frightful or Crackers has had 2 poops like this one in the last 2 days:



Now Ive done some work in the coop, I installed a larger perch and I raised a larger enclosure for my bantams that moved out there about 3 days ago. No real work has been done inside the coop except the new perch.

Of course Frightful has to be picky and refuses to lay an egg the day after I do any work. Then yesterday she layed another egg off her perch during the night. not soft shelled, but definitely smaller than usual and had a whitish sheen over the brown shell.

Anyhow, this morning we got another one of these. All watery with chunks.

Lots of yellow in the urates.

So I took a look at the famous poo chart and saw that near the bottom was one that was similar. It says worms or kidney trouble. Now I wormed my girls back in May and havent seen any worms since. However, frightful has been losing weight, not fast, jsut slowly. She is not lethargic thought. She is quite the bully in the coop actually. I was thinking it might not hurt to worm them again though. However, Ivermectin ranges from $60 to $200 here. Im a bit strapped for cash for a little while and only have Wazine. Is there an alternative to Ivermectin as a secendary worm?

Its been humid here, like sticky humid too. Im wondering if that could be the trouble?

 

[dawg53]

The poop looks normal to me. An inexpensive wormer is safeguard liquid goat wormer. It's better than wazine and ivermectin. It's panacur/ fenbendazole.
http://www.jefferslivestock.com/safe-guard-dewormer-for-goats/camid/LIV/cp/I6-SK/cn/330/

 

[terryg]

I've had healthy hens for over 16 years and have never once had to worm. I do take fecal samples to the vet and know that I don't have problems. So, don't rush to worm. The manure pictured looks like what happens after it rains and the hens drink too much muddy water. I wouldn't worry, except for that you've also noticed weight loss. I'd suspect heat stress more than worms. (I have tips about how to deal with heat here: http://hencam.com/faq/hot-weather-care/

 

[Reurra]

Thanks to both of you! I really appreciate your responses!!

Im glad to hear that the poo looks somewhat normal!

Thanks Dawg and Terry! Ill try both solutions.

I know I should not be so quick to worm, but my girls eat LOTS of slugs and worms here. I dont know what it is about this area, but its crawling with slugs and worms...and earwigs

. Im sure they will probably pick up something and I want to be careful.

It has been really rainy and really humid here. Its like being in a rain forest. You walk outside and though its raining and cloudy you feel like you should be in a bathing suit! Its that hot!

Ive got the windows to the coop open to let the air through, but with no breeze, its been really stale. Weather department says it should pick up this afternoon with gusts around 30 mph. I leave the windows open all night too just so they can get that fresh night breeze. Nothing can get in because there is some really heavy wire mesh over them. Nothing short of a welder can get through it.

I keep thier waterer inside too, it sits in the far corner of the coop away from any sunlight so it cant get warmed up easily. Temps here have been around 22-26 C.