Thanks for all of the helpful suggestions! I've ordered Valbazen and will administer as soon as it arrives. (Our local feed store doesn't carry it.) I'm also trying to clean up their droppings as best I can, though by now the soil itself is surely heavy with eggs. I spread out DE too, just in case it helps, and there's plenty in their dustbath, which they also peck and eat out of. I am going to build a proper chicken tractor to house them in, put them on ground that hasn't been contaminated, keep moving them, so this isn't as likely to happen again.
As for the Valbazen dosage for hens, I found these suggestions on other threads: "Mix 8cc of water to 1cc of valbazen, shake and give 2cc to each chicken" and "1 cc = 1 mL." Does this sound right? Is that the dosage you use?
I bought some raw, unsalted pumpkin seeds online, and last night I chopped them (hard work!) and the chickens seemed interested at first but didn't eat any. I even peeled some and gave them the meat, but no interest. I'll try mixing it in with their food. Should I roast them?
What is the reason to give the oyster shells separately? I tried that at first because I thought maybe the BR was eggbound since she stopped laying and I wanted to get her calcium asap, but they showed no interest. The package said it could be mixed with the food, so I tried that. I have no idea if they actually eat it or just knock it into the soil, but I figure there's a better chance it will be consumed if it's mixed. Is that introducing another problem?
Thanks everyone!
