I successfully wormed our bluebelle hen about eight weeks ago (I say successfully, as my husband saw her do a poop full of dead worms during the course of the treatment). I had only been worming as a preventative, not because I'd actually seen any worms.
However, during the course (Flubenvet) our other hen (the BO) came down with mycoplasma, and stopped eating. I suspect she didn't get much of the worming treatment as a result.
Now I'm thinking about worming again, to ensure they both get the treatment (this time with an ivermectin-based pour-on) but am worried that with such a recent history of mycoplasma, an unnecessary dose of wormer to the BO's system might set her off on a relapse.
I have not noticed either of them going light, and both seem alert and laying well at the moment. I am an obsessive poop-checker and have seen no evidence of worms or faecal blood from either of them. The bluebelle has also just got over a nasty strain of Infectious Bronchitis, and seems really well (fingers crossed) at the moment.
Is it worth taking the risk to their weakened immune systems of worming them, or, conversely, am I taking a risk if I skip the worming until the Autumn, to give their poor little bodies a rest? I don't know what to do for the best!