I always find worming the hens to be a bit hit and miss, mainly due to the confusing dosing instructions. Confusing that is if you have a small flock of birds who (thankfully) don’t get through the advised 100kg of feed within 7 days.
I buy the 240g tub of Flubenvet Medicated Premixture 2.5%. Flubenvet seems to be the wormer of choice in the UK and is effective against all stages of gapeworm, large roundworm, caecal worm, hairworm and gizzard worm. Apparently there is also a 1% version available now to small flock owners, but this big tub works out cheaper in the long run. Please check which one you have before following any of my imminent ramblings!
According to the instructions, 120g medicates 100kg of chicken food which needs to be fed over the course of 7 days (with any leftovers being disposed of). I estimate that my hens get through 10 kg of feed a week. ’120g into 100kg feed’ equates to 12g into 10kg of feed. Simple huh?
My 14 hens need 12g of Flubenvet 2.5% fed over a week therefore…
Each adult laying hens need 1.2g of Flubenvet 2.5% over the course of 7 days.
The next tricky bit comes as ducks aren’t listed as one of the birds this mix is designed for. My ducks have access to the chickens feed hopper, so I can’t medicate the regular feed.
Therefore, I shall medicate the chickens afternoon ‘sweeties’ (corn).
1/2 level tsp of the powder weighs 2g, so I need to mix 1 level tablespoon (or 3 x level teaspoons) into their treats.
For this I measured out 7 scoops of corn into a bowl. I sprayed it with oil to make the powder stick and mixed it all in. Just one scoop of their afternoon treats will keep worms at bay.
I will never have to look at that pot whilst scratching my head in utter confusion ever again!
To save my blushes, please someone else admit to being confuddled by the dosage instructions. Surely I’m not alone?
Gosh! So confusing. At least you’ve worked it out now so it never has to be done again.
I know right! Craziest instructions ever :)
It’s worming week here too. I have the 1% as apparently the 2.5 isn’t available to everyone, which is a shame as it’s much cheaper! I’ve just been making up 2kg of feed at a time with the teaspoon of Flubenvet in. It’s my first time worming them and I was a bit confuddled by the instructions at first and had to have a good look around the internet first.
Glad I’m not the only one Claire! Thanks for letting me know about the availability of the bigger tub, I didn’t know that.
Janie x
Definately confusing! I have been underworming just for fear of overworming as i couldnt work out the dosage!hx
Thanks you Helen, I’m glad it’s not just me! I’ll be using the teaspoon method from now on, can’t believe it took me so long to actually sit down and work it all out! Janie x
SO glad someone worked this out! I’m happy to have been able to by the 2.5% rather than the 1% as it works out loads cheaper in the long run :) thanks xx
Amy, so glad I could help! Janie x
Hi, I just found your site and am loving it so far. In fact, I read your how-to on cutting up whole chickens and am going to try it.
I was wondering if you had heard about diatomaceous earth? It’s a natural wormer and what I use for my dogs and feral cats. Although I’m not sure how you would give it to chickens though. Sprinkle it in their food I guess. Anyways, it works great for my animals and I also use it as an ant/roach killer. Weird, I know, that it can be used for both but it can. It’s safe for humans and pets as it is a mechanical wormer and not a chemical one. My mother even takes it as it has a bunch of minerals that are good for you. This may all sound weird but if you research it, it will make more sense. Just make sure you buy food grade and not pool grade. Here is one site that has a bunch of info on it. It’s not my site but I found it when I was doing research on it.
http://wolfcreekranch1.tripod.com/
Nona
Hey Nona, thanks for getting touch! I do use DE for my flock, but I use it in their coop, to combat Red Mite. Not as effective as chemical sprays, but much kinder/safer. Haven’t heard about it being used internally. Janie x