I know there's a whole lot of threads about this subject already, but the more I read, the more unsure I become.
I have eight silkies and 11 mixed breed (sex-links, ameraucana, etc.) chickens. I found a roundworm in a goey pile of poo the other day - I think it was about 1.5" long. Also, I can see (in the sand under their perches) that a few of my girls have very runny poo. I have never wormed my chickens before (some of my hens are over four years old), but I now realize that worming is something I should have been doing – and something that I need to do right away.
So I read a whole bunch of articles, pages, threads on the subject of worming chickens. I decided to go with the valbazen, but when I went to the feed store, they didn't have that. So instead I bought a small but expensive bottle of liquid goat wormer (safeguard).
I also have two alpacas, and they share water with my chickens when they're out of their coop (which is all day, every day), so I was wondering if putting the wormer in their water would even work (Although, if absolutely necessary I could keep the chickens locked up in their run & separate from the pacas for a day). Then I also wondered if I could worm the pacas at the same time that way (with safeguard liquid goat wormer in their water) or not.
However, when reading some more - to determine the correct amounts and the best way to administer the Safeguard to my chickens, I saw that this wormer should not be giving during molt, which many of my girls are going through right now (of course).
I also saw the concern of killing too many worms at once, which could hurt, or even kill, a chicken. Since I actually saw a worm in the droppings, I have to assume that one or more of my chickens has a severe infestation.
I did see Wazine at the feed store also, but initially decided not to get it, since I had read this thread,
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...nd-wormer-misinformations-graphic-pictures/30
which highly recommends either Valbazen(albendazole) or Safeguard(fenbendazole) for goats. Since making my purchase, though, I saw this thread
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...nd-piperazine-dosage-for-bantams#post_2525157
that recommends worming first with the wazine (gentler), and then using something stronger about 10-14 days later. That person said for the second worming they used ivermectin pour-on, but in that first thread - it says (in so many words) that ivermectin is not a good wormer for chickens.
I'm so unsure of what to do now....
Thoughts/opinions/advice of what my best course of action is?
And does anyone know:
1. Does Valbazen have any issues with chickens that are molting like the safeguard does?
2. Should elderly hens be treated differently in any way?
3. Should I go with Wazine first, and then Valbazen in 10 days?
4. Or should I just use Valbazen now, if "killing to many worms at once" is not typically a concern with Valbazen?
5. Or do you recommend something else?
6. If you recommend Valbazen, where the heck do you get it? My feed store didn't have it. I tried. looking at TSC online, and only saw a huge bottle for $400 (UH-UH - I love my chickens dearly but that's just too much). Those of you that use it - where did you buy it??
Thanks in advance for your help!
~Sharon
I have eight silkies and 11 mixed breed (sex-links, ameraucana, etc.) chickens. I found a roundworm in a goey pile of poo the other day - I think it was about 1.5" long. Also, I can see (in the sand under their perches) that a few of my girls have very runny poo. I have never wormed my chickens before (some of my hens are over four years old), but I now realize that worming is something I should have been doing – and something that I need to do right away.
So I read a whole bunch of articles, pages, threads on the subject of worming chickens. I decided to go with the valbazen, but when I went to the feed store, they didn't have that. So instead I bought a small but expensive bottle of liquid goat wormer (safeguard).
I also have two alpacas, and they share water with my chickens when they're out of their coop (which is all day, every day), so I was wondering if putting the wormer in their water would even work (Although, if absolutely necessary I could keep the chickens locked up in their run & separate from the pacas for a day). Then I also wondered if I could worm the pacas at the same time that way (with safeguard liquid goat wormer in their water) or not.
However, when reading some more - to determine the correct amounts and the best way to administer the Safeguard to my chickens, I saw that this wormer should not be giving during molt, which many of my girls are going through right now (of course).
I also saw the concern of killing too many worms at once, which could hurt, or even kill, a chicken. Since I actually saw a worm in the droppings, I have to assume that one or more of my chickens has a severe infestation.
I did see Wazine at the feed store also, but initially decided not to get it, since I had read this thread,
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...nd-wormer-misinformations-graphic-pictures/30
which highly recommends either Valbazen(albendazole) or Safeguard(fenbendazole) for goats. Since making my purchase, though, I saw this thread
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...nd-piperazine-dosage-for-bantams#post_2525157
that recommends worming first with the wazine (gentler), and then using something stronger about 10-14 days later. That person said for the second worming they used ivermectin pour-on, but in that first thread - it says (in so many words) that ivermectin is not a good wormer for chickens.
I'm so unsure of what to do now....
Thoughts/opinions/advice of what my best course of action is?
And does anyone know:
1. Does Valbazen have any issues with chickens that are molting like the safeguard does?
2. Should elderly hens be treated differently in any way?
3. Should I go with Wazine first, and then Valbazen in 10 days?
4. Or should I just use Valbazen now, if "killing to many worms at once" is not typically a concern with Valbazen?
5. Or do you recommend something else?
6. If you recommend Valbazen, where the heck do you get it? My feed store didn't have it. I tried. looking at TSC online, and only saw a huge bottle for $400 (UH-UH - I love my chickens dearly but that's just too much). Those of you that use it - where did you buy it??
Thanks in advance for your help!
~Sharon
