they are tint bantam sized! Sooooo cute!
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yeah... I'll tell my boss that I need a few days off so I can do that, think she'll let me go? I couldn't even get a day off when my (former) MIL died in January. the dome was a stroke of genius born out of desperation to save my remaining chickens from the fox. it's amazing what I can come up with when the pressure is on! look for an old tarp carport, or at least the pipes from an old carport... cuz that's all mine is made from. my mechanic will bend more pipes for me anytime I need them... his daughter really loves my eggs...
Quote: I do think your boss should let you off!! I am in trouble!
DH is never home. I can have the chickens anywhere I wan!.
And I had a nice Eagle looking chick that I was going to name America or Freedom. Turns out it was a RIR roo. Looking at pics of him now, I see his comb and wonder how I didn't know.
Rocky
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Skip down to the blue for the short answer!
I have been reading about worms so much my head's spinning. Here's my take on the info- If your chickens walk on the ground, they have worms, which most can live with just fine, unless the worm load becomes too large. If you see worms in the poop, it is very late in the game and the birds' health is seriously at risk as worms do a great deal of internal damage. This also opens a compromised bird to secondary infections and diseases. There are different types of worms and not all worming medication will work for all types, most are off label wormers for larger livestock. Some vets or universities can check a stool sample for oocysts (worm eggs) from which they identify the type. Most vets are not familiar with chickens specifically, but can still do this float test. Oocysts are not visible without magnification except for tape worms, which package their eggs in those lovely little squirmy rice-like segments.
The closer chickens live to a 'natural' state, the more likely they are able to build resistance to and tolerance for worms. Wild birds without some natural tolerance do not survive. Since mine are cooped and restricted to a particular area, they are more susceptible to worm overload. Climate and soil conditions play a role. Warm, moist soil is a more hospitable environment for worms. Wild birds spread the joy of worms to all, as do other carriers in the worm life cycle such as flies, beetles, and yummy earthworms (say it isn't so!). So it doesn't surprise me that my girls had trouble in our mild wet winter and when I encouraged them to gorge themselves on earthworms.Natural preventatives (pumpkin seeds, pepper flakes, ACV, etc) can help prevent infestation and encourage optimal health, but do not work to eliminate worms once they have taken hold. DE spread in the environment can reduce worm populations there, but feeding DE will not rid a bird of worms. I could not find any studies on the efficacy of pie.
Finally, the answer to your question:
As much as I don't like to, I'm going to medicate. Using 1% injectable ivermectin for cattle because I already have it, and it is used for dogs and people too. (If I ever buy it again, it will be pour on). Lots of controversy about whether worms have built a resistance to ivermectin due to it's frequent use against mites, but local folks have had success with it. No matter what you choose, they will need to be redosed at 10 days to kill newly hatching worms. It is advised to avoid eating eggs for 2 weeks after any medication, although withdrawl times vary. My dogs will get ivermectin eggs. Ivermectin is ineffective against tapeworms. If your pigs are thin they probably need worming too. Just make sure you check the timing before slaughtering, if that is their fate.
Anyone worming chickens regularly should rotate medications to keep the worms from developing resistance. Wazine is the only one approved for use in chickens. Valbazen is the only one that will kill all worm types, including the creepy tapeworms, and there are others commonly used (but I'm too lazy to look them up now). As a rule, most parasites are host specific, so the worms your chickens might get will be different from pig worms (different species of tape worms). You can't give chickens your head lice (for example, I'm not making assumptions!!) and while bird lice might crawl on you, you will not be a host for them. Of course there are some horrible exceptions to this general rule (think ticks), so I try to use caution.
Sorry for the lengthy reply. I'm sure you didn't intend to open up a whole can of worms with your question. Get it? Can of worms!Was talking to my dad about this and he thinks I'm crazy, I shouldn't have to worm my flock because in 20 years
they never had to worm the barnyard chickens. Well, he forgot the the horses were wormed regularly, and where did the chickens spend a large portion of their day? Scratchin' in the horse poo, so they got wormed by default! He told me a gross-out story that he had read---- overweight people will intentionally ingest a tapeworm because it causes rapid weight loss. Apparently you can purchase them for this reason? Crazy? I think so.
Please help settle a dispute. Roger thinks that "Mealworms" means you make a meal out of them. I suggest they are treats. I knew this would happen when she got introduced to "Mealworms". I see a egg strike in the near future.
SIXSIX......Yesterday SIX Eggs
Well, W4W, I'm going to get pictures tomorrowthey are tint bantam sized! Sooooo cute!
They will stay at work till at least spring break. Unless something starts to pick on them. I really need more hens at work. I'm eggsatic about collecting eggs!!!!
If it was a snake it would have bit you! In your defense, you have been incredibly busy and don't get many well lit daylight hours at home. He's sticking it right out there for the camera, too!that's what I thought a cattle panel was too, could be covered with hardware cloth and make a nice frame... DH must be happy that you are not moving them into the house...
so last night, after all was quiet, I took the pup out for a pee and it was SNOWING!!! just lightly, but it freaked me out for the chicks sake. I grabbed the flashlight and dashed to the backyard. they were all roosting and were completely fine. I woke up Archie, who started crowing. which set up a chain reaction... and before I got halfway back to the house, all 3 boys were harmonizing, accented by the tiny wee crow of a very young cockerel. it was just so dear... I'm sure the neighbors didn't feel the same way, but it was only 9:45... and they stopped pretty quickly. I got up super early to check on them and see how much snow...just a dusting, and they are fine. the main roost broke... but it was getting a bit brittle... I didn't think it would last long, but I didn't expect it to break right away... that must have been a nasty shock to the chicks... dumped, unceremoniously onto the ground in the middle of a good deep sleep... I will pick up a handrail at the lumberyard on my way home from work. it's pretty cold this morning, but the run is fairly toasty and quite cozy... I'm so relieved!
W4W, the cockerel is dark brown and red. omg, looking at this pic again, look at that comb! I didn't notice it back then at all... what a knucklehead... I can't find him in the crowd shots either, but, they were piled in the feed bowl...
It's part of the rooster survival strategy. Blend in and hide amongst the girls until either you know you are your human's favorite or you receive a name. Rocky's got it made!I do think your boss should let you off!! I am in trouble!
DH is never home. I can have the chickens anywhere I wan!.
And I had a nice Eagle looking chick that I was going to name America or Freedom. Turns out it was a RIR roo. Looking at pics of him now, I see his comb and wonder how I didn't know.
Awww,
