Parasite eradication

[dawg53]

Spring and fall is good for chickens. I did it when I lived in Georgia. It worked out well.
The only bad thing was that migrating birds would land and of course my chickens would forage after the birds were gone. Some of my chickens eventually got tapeworms from eating infected bugs. I'm not sure if it was migrating bird droppings as the vector for the insects, but I think it was.
I hadnt had a tapeworm issue prior to migrating birds and was just doing regular wormings. It's a different ballgame when dealing with tapeworms. UGH.
I think you have a good plan.

 

[trudyg]

I spread an inch or so of sand under the coop yesterday. I still need to get sand to spread at the other 2 main spots that they dust bath/hang out during the day. (My truck is too small to carry more in one load). I also cleaned the coop and put in Koop Klean (a hay product with sweet pdz in it). They absolutely LOVE this stuff and it smells really nice in the coop. Pricier than wood chips, but thought I'd try it anyway.

I treated for the worms with 2 grams Levamisole drench per gallon of water. directions said sole source of water for 6 hours, so I put it out before the pop door opened around 5:30 and left it until around 2 pm. Instructions said once every 7 days for 3 doses. I plan to put out the next dose Thursday evening, when I get home from work, and change it out for fresh water Friday morning before I leave for my trip. That'll just have to do. Then I'll do the Thurs/Fri routine again in 7 days, since I'll be home by Thurs. Any idea when I can see a change? The poopy butts are better since I've been putting yogurt in it as mash every day, but still not where I want it to be (still see poopy white on the feathers, I want it gone completely.)

 

[dawg53]

You have a solid plan. When I use wazine on occasion, I set the treated water out first thing in the morning before letting the birds out for the day. Birds are thirsty after being cooped up all night and will readily drink the treated water, particularly in warm or hot temps. Poopy whites are urates and are normal unless feces is all white in color. Heat can be a factor but feces is usually watery. I spray their rear ends with the hose and let them go, not during cold temps though. If urates or feces stay on their rear ends too long, it'll cause redness (burning) on the skin, then eventual feather loss and irritation. We see this alot in the forum, someone posting about red butts and underside.
Give the wormer time to do its job. Hopefully you'll see improvement soon.
After worming each time, give them boiled white rice mixed with buttermilk. Buttermilk is a much better probiotic than yogurt. Yogurt tends to run out of chickens. Buttermilk coats intestines and is easily absorbed.