Worming Hens

[Oola]

We suspect one of the problems one of our hens has had is that she's managed to get worms. When I went to the farmshop, the owner declared that I shouldn't have to worm my hens, which I found a bit odd and probably wrongly thought that she was insinuating that I wasn't looking after them in a properly hygienic condition!

But the vet we spoke to said that hens should be wormed every 6 months or so, which I thought made sense. He gave us the prescription medication as that's the only way you can get it in the UK now (apparently the other ones you could buy from the shops don't actually work).

I am inclined to think that the vet is right, but should I have to worm them twice a year? He said unless they're running on 100 acres or something they'll be going over the same soil and so will run the risk of coming into contact with the occysts (worm thingies in the soil, poo etc). Ours have about 1/6th of an acre to 4 of them, so I always thought this was pleeennnnnttttyy of space. Any thoughts? :confused:

[CountryLady]

We worm ours once a year - when we remember. Yours do have oodles of room Oola. We have about thirty on an acre and a half, but they share space with the ducks, geese and guinea fowl.

[SummerSkye]

Hi Oola, try adding a clove or two of peeled garlic to their drinking water, it is an old method for keeping worms at bay. Also you can add finely chopped onion tops, chives and garlic to their feed as a disease and worm preventative measure. Too much may impart the onion flavour to the eggs though.

[Oola]

OK thanks for that!

Yoko has gone a bit funny again - I think the steroid injection she had last week is wearing off. I found her late yesterday afternoon sitting in the nest box with her tail feathers riding really high. She's gone off her food again (I think the steroids increased her appetite), but is scratching around and not as listless as she was before the injection. I phoned up to get the results of her fecal sample but they said they weren't in and could potentially take up to 10 days to come back (we gave them in last weds evening).

I suspect she is still broody, but it seems to be on and off. She'll seem fine, but the next minute she'll come over all broody, and then she's fine again. It just doesn't seem to be anything persistent. I think we're going to have to lock her in the run again this afternoon so that she will eat out of a bit of boredom. It's also the only way to get her worming stuff into her, and the course technically should finish on thurs so she needs all she can get....but really difficult when she's got no interest in her layers mash or corn!!!!

[CountryLady]

Poor Yoko, hope she's on the mend soon.

[Oola]

Thanks, I hope so too. I'm such a worrier.