San Diego Chicken meetup and Chat thread

[SunValleySeramas]

I use ivormecton de wormer i get in liquid form from my horse vet 1-2 drops in mouth ever 3 months. then for the external stuff, i use frontline 3 drops on skin near their rear!! i have not had any issues with fertility dropping yet!!

 

[luvanimals2]

I am so sorry.

I have pondered it often why they hatch out and then pass. I totally understand the survival of the fittest but it seems so unfair. I have had them hatch out and then pass away still in the incubator. Then there are some that want to live so badly that you try to help even in your heart of hearts know what is coming. Last week I had to cull a quail chick that had fight in her but I knew it was not going to work so I culled her. I did not want her to suffer and ended it for her. I was in a very dark place but honestly it comes with the territory when you hatch chicks. A sad fact of life. I really am sorry you had to experience it.

Nancy
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[crazy huhn]

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The Wazine is only effective against roundworms (it will not kill their eggs or larvae!) and you do need to deworm again after 10 to 14 days to get the newly hatched larvae and eggs. When have you dewormed them exactly?
I do like the Valbazen as it pretty much is effective against most kind of worms, their larvae/eggs. I have heard from a vet that the Ivermectin "pour-on" (which is also recommended in many posts on BYC here) is too hard on the birds liver, but I have used that, too, because I do not want any worms develop resistance to any of the products.

It is a good idea to do a fecal egg count test. The vet does not charge much for it ( if I remember it right, less than $ 20). Egg count, not just fecal test - all chickens will show some sort of worm eggs, but you do want to know what you are up against and you do want to know how bad (high worm egg count) it really is. If you see some worms, you can be sure that they all have parasites.

Now to your question on how your chickens get those without free ranging: do wild birds have access to your coop or enclosure? Some beetles, snails, slugs, grubs, redworms may be carriers, so if the chickens eat those, they might get some worms. Once I was so happy to find all different kind of grubs and worms when I turned my compost and so were my chickens, but sure enough they picked up some parasites from them. Since then I do breed my own healthy mealworms.
Of course the girls free range and find some bugs once in a while and I also have wild birds everywhere, but at least it is more controlled.

Now the good news: Yes, you will have to toss the eggs for a while, but usually the chicken droppings will improve dramatically soon after worming and I have noticed that my chickens are laying more eggs after worming. Maybe just quintessence, but I like to believe it.

Hi Huhn!
I had dewormed them about a month ago as a preventative but never saw any worms expelled. I tried getting info at that time to see if I needed to do a follow up deworming and my post went unanswered so I made an executive decision....apparently the wrong one. I also tried to get a fecal count but the vet wanted to charge an exam fee on one bird and was only willing to check the feces of that one bird. Where do you go to get it done? I prefer not to medicate if it's not necessary.

I've started them on another round of Wazine, ordered the Valzaben to do a follow-up and have learned that there are no short cuts. Thanks for your help.

You are on the right track now. Wazine first and Valbazen in 10 to 14 days should take care of your problem. The reason why some posts on the forum get no answers is that the question has been asked many many times before and the answer can be found if you search the topic. Some people are just tired of answering the same questions over and over again. Sorry you had to experience that.

I also prefer not to medicate any of my animals, but sometimes you got to do what you got to do. In your case you have seen the worms and like you said, there are no short cuts or alternatives. All the stuff like pumpkin seeds, cayenne, garlic, DE etc. is nice and good, but first you need to take control over your problem, because you know you have it. Unfortunately just because we do not see any worms in the droppings it does not mean that there are not any. That is why I have recommended the fecal egg count. I had a vet in East County doing it a while ago, but the moment I see worms in the droppings, I can save that money and go ahead to treat all my birds. Bottom line here is getting rid of your existing parasites first, then you can try to keep it under control with natural stuff like mentioned above. Hope that makes sense.

In regards of the Ivermectin (see also my note about it in my earlier post): the "Pour-on" is the way to go for chickens. This way it will get absorbed through their skin and blood stream and it is a little less hard on their liver. Also it is fantastic if you do have ectoparasites like mites, leg mites or lice and their is less need to use pyrethrum based powders or sprays like Frontline.

Edited to say, if I only want to treat ectoparasites, I probably would go the pyrethrum based powder or Frontline round first.....

 

[enzolove]

Here 'tis - our very first egg!

 

[crazy huhn]

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That is beautiful, enzolove. Congratulations.

I usually try to carefully blow out the very first egg of my pullets and save them in a little basket as a kitchen decoration. Sentimental me......

 

[Phage]

Congratulations!!

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[SunnyCalifornia]

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That is beautiful, enzolove. Congratulations.

I usually try to carefully blow out the very first egg of my pullets and save them in a little basket as a kitchen decoration. Sentimental me......

Thats so sweet!! I wish I would have thought to do that! Guess I'll have to get more hens. LOL.

 

[dfdesigns]

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Gorgeous! There's nothing quite as special as that first egg...

 

[Phage]

Is anyone thinking of going to the Norco meetup who would like to car pool?

Also I know this is a long shot but is anyone interested in some FREE really pretty HIGH QUALITY exchequer leghorn rooster chicks (I think they are boys but I have got it wrong SO often) . I would love them to go to a good home where they are less likely to end up as lunch.
I got the eggs from a BCYer who got her eggs from Peachick. These are PEACHICKS pics of her adult birds that were listed on BYC, so the grandparents of these chicks. I hope it is OK to show them?

Also have some free split lavender Austrolorp chicks, also probable roos.

 

[SunnyCalifornia]

Wow, those are pretty Miriam!! Not sure that my neighbors are far enough away for one of those roosters.... might get me in trouble!!

I'm planning on going to the Norco meet up. I have to make some arrangements for my kids to get rides to soccer that day before I can commit to carpooling, but I'd definitely be interested if I can get that detail worked out.