Northeast Georgia girl who could use some advice

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LilaJean

In the Brooder
Aug 5, 2023
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Hi, I'm Lila Jean and my husband and I live on a little hobby farm in Cleveland, Ga with 21 chickens and three rabbits. We've had backyard chickens for around 14 years but now find ourselves in what, to me, is a very stressful situation. In the last 2-3 months we've had three fox attacks and lost five hens. We've always allowed them to free range all day and now we're having to leave them in their run most of the day until I can be out in the yard the last couple hours of the day with them. Not only are they sad but worms and mites are becoming a big problem. Before when we've had to worm them, our vet recommended ivermectin but it looks like from posts I'm seeing, that may not be the best option now? I'm so concerned because I desperately want to let them out for their best health but also don't want to lose them all, one by one to foxes. I can hardly think straight and am praying someone can give me some clear advice. I greatly appreciate anyone who takes the time to read all of that and replies.
 
Hello Lila Jean, and welcome to BYC! :frow Glad you joined.
Have you considered constructing a large pen surrounded by electrified poultry netting to keep them safe from ground predators? That's how I strike a compromise between free ranging and being confined to a run permanently.
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Hello and welcome to BYC! :frow

So sorry you are having these issues. Definitely either confine your birds to a run or use electric fencing to keep them safe.

Do they have a good dust bathing area? Old tires filled with dirt, chickens love to use your garden as well, a spot on the run you can add dirt to. Dust bathing helps to keep the mites under control. Permethrin works well in the coop, strip the floor, nest boxes, spray everything down well, make sure to get under the roost bar too. Repeat in 7 days. Pour on Ivermectin works well on external bugs in birds, several drops on the back of the neck on each bird, move the feathers away so it gets on the skin only.

Take a sample of poop to your vet, they can check for worms and what type you are dealing with. As long as there are no tape worms, liquid Fenbendazole kills worms. .2ml per pound of bird, orally under the tongue. Repeat in 10 days.
 

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