[Belinda]

How old should the chickens be before its safe to worm them I did look at the thread on Poultry information but couldn't see an age. Also it says on the external parasites thread not to frontline them untill they are fully feathered what age would that be? Mine are 10 weeks they have mostly feathers but bottom half is fluffy still. Being totally inexperienced not sure if that means they have all their feathers or not. If I can't frontline them I thought I would dust them in Diatom if thats ok?

[Aunt Sally]

I've never had chicks but others will be along who have.

My instinct would say leave them until they are about 6 month old before worming.

[Belinda]

Ok thank you Aunt Sally.

[Aunt Sally]

Don't take my word for it though, wait for a chicky person to reply !

[Belinda]

Ok thanks no I won't but I know you have a much better idea than me.

[Aunt Sally]

Googling says never before 6 weeks.  Doy ou suspect they have a problem ?

GrannieAnnie is the lady to answer your question.  I'm sure she'll pop by before long

[Belinda]

No not at all just have always wormed my animals so just wondering when was safe to do it. They are not taking anything other than pellets at the mo so it would be difficult anyway to hand feed them grapes so hoping I could leave it a bit.

[GrannieAnnie]

I thought my flubenvet said from 3 weeks, but I can't remember at the moment which safe place I put it in!  Because I wanted to worm the amberlinks before they go out onto the run where the Babcock's were. They are 6 weeks now.

But I have Jeyesed the run and scraped the top bit of soil off where the others pooped!  Like auntie said, is there a particular reason you want to worm them now?  When we had our first lot of chicks,I didn't worm them until they almost reached POL, but they were on a fresh run with loads of grass, so I didn't worry at teh time about them catching anything!

I'll have a look and get back to you soonest!

[Dannii]

Hi,

The chicken centre I bought my chooks from told me not to worm them until they start laying and then to use vermx pellets not liquid as lots of chooks dont like the taste of the liquid and will be a big waste of money if they dont like it. I trust there advice as they have an excellent reputation and lots of chookie people always take their chooks to them for free 'veterinary' advice before going ot their vets.

Hope that helps!

Dannii

[Belinda]

I thought my flubenvet said from 3 weeks, but I can't remember at the moment which safe place I put it in!  Because I wanted to worm the amberlinks before they go out onto the run where the Babcock's were. They are 6 weeks now.

But I have Jeyesed the run and scraped the top bit of soil off where the others pooped!  Like auntie said, is there a particular reason you want to worm them now?  When we had our first lot of chicks,I didn't worm them until they almost reached POL, but they were on a fresh run with loads of grass, so I didn't worry at teh time about them catching anything!

I'll have a look and get back to you soonest!

Thank you very much Grannie. There is no reason that I want to worm them and there run is on ground which has not had chickens on before so I guess I could leave them till they are older. Thanks.

[Boxfanman]

What happens if you don't worm chickens?

[Aunt Sally]

They get worms, they get ill, they die  

[Jellyhead]

em........................ they can get worms :roll:  :oops:  :oops:   sorry :oops:

[Jellyhead]

actually if they do get worms it can make them poorly, even deadly poorly :shock: I err on the side of caution and worm every six months just to be on the safeside

[Aunt Sally]

I err on the side of caution and worm every six months just to be on the safeside

Good idea !