Worming flock

[Feather faucett]

Am I supposed to worm my flock, if so how does that work? Also I lost 3
hens during the last 6 weeks for no apparent reason. A black snake kept going in the next eating eggs, maybe he bit them?

 

[eggbert420]

Get rid of the snake.

 

[NanaKat]

Am I supposed to worm my flock, if so how does that work? Also I lost 3
hens during the last 6 weeks for no apparent reason. A black snake kept going in the next eating eggs, maybe he bit them?

Black snakes eat eggs, but usually don't bite adults.
Yes, worming your chickens is something you can do twice a year. Each time you worm, you will give the medication twice...10 days apart. This first dose gets the worms and the recently hatched offspring. The second dose gets the ones that hatched from eggs since the first dose preventing a re-infestation.
There are several products you can use to do that. Some you add to water, some are paste that you dose each bird and some are a pour on. Check with your local feed store...most carry a wide range of wormers. Some worming agents also help with controlling mites.
Losing hens is not pleasant. A lot can depend on how old they are, how hot your your climate is and illness or injury.

 

[Feather faucett]

Get rid of the snake.

Yeah we killed the snake, he was eating a dozen eggs per day, or either he brought his snake friends with him n they had a egg eating party, but all my eggs were gone. I'm getting eggs again but lost another hen yesterday. I have never wormed them n will do so today. Thanks

 

[NanaKat]

Yeah we killed the snake, he was eating a dozen eggs per day, or either he brought his snake friends with him n they had a egg eating party, but all my eggs were gone. I'm getting eggs again but lost another hen yesterday. I have never wormed them n will do so today. Thanks

If you suspect other snakes are coming to the hen house, you can use a minnow trap baited with an egg. The snake goes in thru the funnel opening, swallows the egg and then cannot get out. You then dispose of the snake. and reset the trap. I bought mine at Walmart and have used it successfully for many years.