Re: New additions to the household Hi james, in the first instance it is very unlikely to be a tapeworm infestation especially in the Uk. Cut out the ACV for now continue with a 7 day course of flubenvet. Then rest them for a few days. They should be fine. The best option then is to send off for feacals to asertain what the worm load at that point is and whether a second course is necessary. If you use st davids (exeter) or chickenvet.com they can send you a kit, they are really quite cheap and they can give advise on results. I use St Davids poultry centre for all my poultry stuff. This time of year it would unusual to have such a high worm burden so quickly unless your new birds have been infested over winter. We test our flocks twice a year late autumn and early spring to check worm loading before winter and spring when temps start to warm the soil. Lots of info on poultrykeeper.com.
Re: New additions to the household [quote author=Beanwood link=topic=10517.msg158848#msg158848 date=1429871916] Hi james, in the first instance it is very unlikely to be a tapeworm infestation especially in the Uk. Cut out the ACV for now continue with a 7 day course of flubenvet. Then rest them for a few days. They should be fine. The best option then is to send off for feacals to asertain what the worm load at that point is and whether a second course is necessary. If you use st davids (exeter) or chickenvet.com they can send you a kit, they are really quite cheap and they can give advise on results. I use St Davids poultry centre for all my poultry stuff. This time of year it would unusual to have such a high worm burden so quickly unless your new birds have been infested over winter. We test our flocks twice a year late autumn and early spring to check worm loading before winter and spring when temps start to warm the soil. Lots of info on poultrykeeper.com. [/quote] Thanks Kate. I add ACV to their water by default. And have especially added it since we added the Buffs and everyone is a bit stressed (I've found a few unfinished, soft Buff eggs, and yesterday I found one in the middle of the field which is what caused me to investigate poos etc). Why do you say cut it out? I do feed them a lot of earthworms as treats as they absolutely love them. I thought maybe that could've been the source. All that said, I'm regularly checking poos today and all seem clear as nasties.
Re: New additions to the household If they've only started laying recently (either because they are young or the laying season has just started) then a few soft shelled eggs are nothing to worry about. The cause of that is two yolks being released from the ovaries in 24 hrs - only one can get a shell as the shell gland can only manage one in 24 hrs. The same thing can happen at the end of the laying season in autumn. This kind of thing is no big deal. In birds that have been laying steadily, the onset of consistent soft shelled eggs and/or thin shelled/misshapen eggs usually means something more. Most people think its a lack of calcium in the diet, and it might be, but mostly it's an infection of the shell gland which requires antibiotics to clear it up.
Re: New additions to the household [quote author=Oberon link=topic=10517.msg159049#msg159049 date=1429906870] If they've only started laying recently (either because they are young or the laying season has just started) then a few soft shelled eggs are nothing to worry about. The cause of that is two yolks being released from the ovaries in 24 hrs - only one can get a shell as the shell gland can only manage one in 24 hrs. The same thing can happen at the end of the laying season in autumn. This kind of thing is no big deal. In birds that have been laying steadily, the onset of consistent soft shelled eggs and/or thin shelled/misshapen eggs usually means something more. Most people think its a lack of calcium in the diet, and it might be, but mostly it's an infection of the shell gland which requires antibiotics to clear it up. [/quote] Ah that's interesting and really makes sense. It's one of the new Buffs who has just recently started laying. She's done it three times now and each time has laid a proper egg a short while later. So that adds up. Thanks, I was a little concerned.
Re: New additions to the household No worries. Her system will work itself out in time and she should settle down to laying on a normal cycle
Re: New additions to the household So it was a false alarm of sorts. Although the Flubenvet is obviously working as I found two dead roundworms this morning huuuurgh :-\ They were massive at about 6cm long each. Poor chicks At least I'm on top of it now.
Re: New additions to the household Well done for noticing and getting onto it quickly They probably had worms when you got them. By the time you see actual worms in poo there's quite a population. Your girls will be feeling a lot better after this!
Re: New additions to the household [quote author=bbrown link=topic=10517.msg159129#msg159129 date=1429953541] The things you learn on this forum! ;D [/quote] Precisely. I know a lot more about ducks, chickens and now blue tits, too, than I ever thought I would. From a Labrador forum
Re: New additions to the household [quote author=snowbunny link=topic=10517.msg159132#msg159132 date=1429953598] [quote author=bbrown link=topic=10517.msg159129#msg159129 date=1429953541] The things you learn on this forum! ;D [/quote] Precisely. I know a lot more about ducks, chickens and now blue tits, too, than I ever thought I would. From a Labrador forum [/quote] Don't forget about the Spaniels!!
Re: New additions to the household [quote author=JAYMZ link=topic=10517.msg159149#msg159149 date=1429955429] [quote author=snowbunny link=topic=10517.msg159132#msg159132 date=1429953598] [quote author=bbrown link=topic=10517.msg159129#msg159129 date=1429953541] The things you learn on this forum! ;D [/quote] Precisely. I know a lot more about ducks, chickens and now blue tits, too, than I ever thought I would. From a Labrador forum [/quote] Don't forget about the Spaniels!! [/quote] Well they are definitely weird and wonderful creatures
Well unfortunately, after the successful Flubenvet treatment killing a load of roundworm, I noticed the same "eggs" in a poo I initially saw and then actually found a 10cm tapeworm the next day! I think the roundworm killing was actually luck and we did have the tapeworm all along. I picked up some Praziquantel yesterday and gave them all a small dose. Easier said than done! Will repeat again in three weeks.
