The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Scott H]

Quote:
I went with Safeguard as well after reading everything about wormers I could find and all the worming posts on this site.

This one really did it for me and is worth reading. Click here for thread.

I used the Safeguard paste but how to get it in there gut? Then I got an idea. I get one once in a while. Our chickens love raspberries so I squeezed out the dosage inside raspberries and they swallowed them whole. After treating I made sure to build their gut back up with lots of yogurt and ACV in their water. Just what I do.

 

[aoxa]

Have you taken a sample to the vet to check for worms? I would be very surprised they didn't have worms if they are allowed out on the ground.

Worms are part of life. Having an overload is where the real problems lie.

 

[aaggjg]

Delish I opened the thread first thing looking for an update. I'm sure you have your hands full trying to save them. Still sending good thoughts your way.

 

[aaggjg]

Worms are part of life. Having an overload is where the real problems lie.

So true. The 2 birds I had necropsies done on this year had worms found in their feces. One was a lot and the other had traces. So obviously my birds have worms. The question is how many are too many?? Did the worms weaken the birds & make them susceptible to disease or did the disease allow the worms to grab hold??

Has anybody learned how to do fecal floats at home?? If so what count of worm eggs is considered an overload?? And what is acceptable??? Oh yeah and how do you do the fecal float???!! My local vet charges $55 bucks .... So that's not going to happen anytime soon!!

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

So true. The 2 birds I had necropsies done on this year had worms found in their feces. One was a lot and the other had traces. So obviously my birds have worms. The question is how many are too many?? Did the worms weaken the birds & make them susceptible to disease or did the disease allow the worms to grab hold??

Has anybody learned how to do fecal floats at home?? If so what count of worm eggs is considered an overload?? And what is acceptable??? Oh yeah and how do you do the fecal float???!! My local vet charges $55 bucks .... So that's not going to happen anytime soon!!

A while back I was interested in this too and wrote a BYC article on this subject. You can find it here. I never did get around to it, but I intend to.

 

[Highcotton]

Quote:
I don't know about internally but Tea Tree Oil is an excellent exernal antifungal. It beats Lamasil for nail fungus.

 

[Shan30]

Thanks Kassaundra! That's what puzzles me! So many fermenters here. I swear I'm not using anything different than anyone here.  I will feed dry for a while and start a small new batch of FF later on.

Try not to blame yourself for this, your very obviously doing your best to maintain the health of these guys. Hey we made a mistake that cost us every bird we had.

Plus when we sent our birds in they had worms too. We don't ferment but we do use UPACV, garlic and herbs. I think the reality is that doing these things keeps them strong and gives them a chance to fight off parasites on their own. I do not think it prevents them from getting worms entirely. When we got the results, we wormed.

Maybe continue to ferment but also free feed dry so they have a choice and can eat as much as they want at least until they put some weight back on. We free feed and were told the weight was where it should be. I'm sure some breeds will just pack it on given the opportunity.

Also a possibility to consider, did you have these birds from chicks? Did they have any issues as chicks? This basically sounds like failure to thrive and develop which I would think would be either genetic or perhaps the result of an illness early in life. Doubtful that its environmental as it sounds like they have a wonderful place with you.

 

[Shan30]

Maybe check if the lab does fecal floats. I would bet that they are way less expensive than the vet.

Our lab tests blood samples for $3 each if you know what you are looking for. Of course you haw to draw it yourself.

 

[MeatMyChicken]

Delisha - I've been thinking (worrying) about you and your flock all day. I know you'll post when you can. Just want you to know there are a lot of folks out here pulling for your birds.

 

[Scott H]

+1