Need worming advice for tiny flock

[leight54]

Posting under "Managing Your Flock", even though my "flock" consists of only 2 lovely ladies. My question is about worms and dewormer.

I suspect they have worms because they seem to be thinner than they were, but it's hard to tell be cause they seem to be in a constant state of molting! They haven't gone bald, but seem to be replacing feathers gradually. I haven't had eggs in months.

So my questions are:

1) Should I have their poop tested (my vet will do it) first, or just go ahead and treat with a broad spectrum dewormer?

2) Because there are only two of them, what would be the best way to administer it? I'd be willing to squirt it in their mouths - seems like that would be more exact, and less wasteful than adding it to their water, which I typically dump and replace daily.

3 )Where can I buy dewormer? We have an Agway and an independent feed store in town.

I know this topic had been covered a million times, but maybe someone with a similarly tiny flock can share their experiences?

Thanks!

 

[lorain's fids]

I have a small flock of 5. I do have their poop tested. It costed me a bout $20.00 I take a small amount from several diferent poops. From the 3 times they have been tested it has come back negative for worms. But they have tested positive for cocci. So I just treat them for cocci. Mine are going through a molt right now, looks like they did loose weight, but I wonder if it's from all the feathers they have been loosing. I had heard that a molt can last 2 months for all their feathers to grow back.

 

[dawg53]

I have a small flock of 5. I do have their poop tested. It costed me a bout $20.00 I take a small amount from several diferent poops. From the 3 times they have been tested it has come back negative for worms. But they have tested positive for cocci. So I just treat them for cocci. Mine are going through a molt right now, looks like they did loose weight, but I wonder if it's from all the feathers they have been loosing. I had heard that a molt can last 2 months for all their feathers to grow back.

I agree that taking poop samples to a vet is best for a small flock. FYI; all birds have cocci in their system and a microscopic slide will always show a few cocci present on the slide...that is normal, no worries. It's when the microscopic slide is filled with cocci is when there's a problem and birds will need to be treated.

 

[dawg53]

Posting under "Managing Your Flock", even though my "flock" consists of only 2 lovely ladies. My question is about worms and dewormer.

I suspect they have worms because they seem to be thinner than they were, but it's hard to tell be cause they seem to be in a constant state of molting! They haven't gone bald, but seem to be replacing feathers gradually. I haven't had eggs in months.

So my questions are:

1) Should I have their poop tested (my vet will do it) first, or just go ahead and treat with a broad spectrum dewormer?

2) Because there are only two of them, what would be the best way to administer it? I'd be willing to squirt it in their mouths - seems like that would be more exact, and less wasteful than adding it to their water, which I typically dump and replace daily.

3 )Where can I buy dewormer? We have an Agway and an independent feed store in town.

I know this topic had been covered a million times, but maybe someone with a similarly tiny flock can share their experiences?

Thanks!

You can purchase safeguard liquid goat wormer. Dosage is given orally undiluted, 1/2cc for standard size birds, 1/4cc for smaller birds. Repeat dosing in 10 days. Safeguard wormer is a good broad spectrum wormer, not expensive neither. Dont give it to them if your birds are in molt though.
If they're in molt, purchase valbazen liquid cattle/sheep wormer. Administer and dose your chickens exactly the same way as with the safeguard liquid goat wormer.
Inspect them for lice/mites as well.

 

[leight54]

Thanks for the advice! I'll hear back from the vet today on the worm situation.