I've had a rough few weeks, having lost 6 of 7 chicks from an order. Right now I have one tiny pullet left, just under 3 weeks old, and we need to worm her (as well as the other chicks she's with, who range from 2 to 4 weeks old).
Does anyone know the safest way to worm (with Ivermectin) in chickens this young and small?
(Filling out the questions on the sticky
She's a black sumatra pullet, just under 3 weeks old, and is underweight.
Voracious appetite but not gaining weight, slow growth rate, lethargy.
For about a week now, did not recognize the odd behavior at first.
We have two other birds currently exhibiting similar symptoms, and we had several others previously who passed.
No sign of external injury or trauma.
Many of the chicks arrived in this condition from the hatchery (we were refunded for 5 of them who passed within 2 days). I believe they may have come infested, that or because her immune system was already comprised making it easy for worms to overtake her.
She has been drinking water, initially with nutridrench, clean, then probiotics, clean, and right now they're all on antibiotics for respiratory issues. They've been eating chick starter (medicated but not with the typical chemical), and a lot of extras such as rice, bread, worms, grass, salad, and freeze-dried mealworms. (Along with grit).
The poops have been kind of runny, and very small (smaller than usual), and occasionally foamy or just watery.
They're on expanded wood pellets (like what you use for horse stalls), and it's cleaned regularly.
We do not have any local vets that have proven to be reliable in treating poultry (having lost several birds due to misdiagnosis from the vet or a total lack of diagnosis and refusal to run tests)...so this is pretty much entirely up to us to diagnose and treat our birds. We have run my sibling's pigeon to Cornell for treatment, as they're way better with birds than any of the vets in a two hour radius...and I have the funds for that to be an option, but traveling that far would be exceptionally stressful on the tiny chick.
These chickens are our pets, each individual is an important part of the family. They're not production birds, and the cost of the chicks themselves does not determine how much I am willing to spend to save them. (Just putting that out there to avoid any unsavory commentary).
So if someone could help me out in figuring out a safe dosage of ivermectin, or an alternative, for such young birds I would really, really appreciate.
Thank you.
Does anyone know the safest way to worm (with Ivermectin) in chickens this young and small?
(Filling out the questions on the sticky
She's a black sumatra pullet, just under 3 weeks old, and is underweight.
Voracious appetite but not gaining weight, slow growth rate, lethargy.
For about a week now, did not recognize the odd behavior at first.
We have two other birds currently exhibiting similar symptoms, and we had several others previously who passed.
No sign of external injury or trauma.
Many of the chicks arrived in this condition from the hatchery (we were refunded for 5 of them who passed within 2 days). I believe they may have come infested, that or because her immune system was already comprised making it easy for worms to overtake her.
She has been drinking water, initially with nutridrench, clean, then probiotics, clean, and right now they're all on antibiotics for respiratory issues. They've been eating chick starter (medicated but not with the typical chemical), and a lot of extras such as rice, bread, worms, grass, salad, and freeze-dried mealworms. (Along with grit).
The poops have been kind of runny, and very small (smaller than usual), and occasionally foamy or just watery.
They're on expanded wood pellets (like what you use for horse stalls), and it's cleaned regularly.
We do not have any local vets that have proven to be reliable in treating poultry (having lost several birds due to misdiagnosis from the vet or a total lack of diagnosis and refusal to run tests)...so this is pretty much entirely up to us to diagnose and treat our birds. We have run my sibling's pigeon to Cornell for treatment, as they're way better with birds than any of the vets in a two hour radius...and I have the funds for that to be an option, but traveling that far would be exceptionally stressful on the tiny chick.
These chickens are our pets, each individual is an important part of the family. They're not production birds, and the cost of the chicks themselves does not determine how much I am willing to spend to save them. (Just putting that out there to avoid any unsavory commentary).
So if someone could help me out in figuring out a safe dosage of ivermectin, or an alternative, for such young birds I would really, really appreciate.
Thank you.
