[Catsmuvva]

Hi, thanks to the information on the site about worming birds individually I have finally completed a whole weeks course of Flubenvet, each of the girls receiving their dose on half a grape which they loved - and fought over, even Afro who hadn't taken food from my hand until then!
However, it's been 2 days since the course finished and Betty is still gaping. Does anyone know how long it should be before I see positive results or will she benefit from a slightly longer course?

[joyfull]

if it had been worms then it should have worked by now, so in which case I would get Betty booked into a vets for a check over.

[Aunt Sally]

She may just be a gaper, some birds are. 

If you suspect gapeworm give her an extra week's course.

[Catsmuvva]

Thanks for the advice. Betty is one of last year's ex-bats and she hasn't been a gaper 'til now so I'll go for the extra week, see if we can knock it on the head (the worm, not Betty!!) If not, vetinary advice methinks. Blimey, whoever said keeping chickens was easy? How do you wise sages gather all your experience? Do you have years of poultry keeping under your collective belts? ;-)

[joyfull]

reading loads of books, medical papers and experience 
I now collect chicken books and they range from the early 1900's fowl keeping through to modern books.

[tamnwill]

Hi, just reading this thread, i have got some Flubenvet 1% medicated premixture for my chooks as a preventative not becasue they have them, but I was told to mix with their food, but can you give each one some? if so, is this easier and if so how much please? Also what is this 'gaping'? thing please? I have one chook that looks like she stretches her neck and opens her mouth on occasion but thought this was quite normal for her, is this the gaping you're taliking about or have I got totally the wrong end of the stick? lol.

[joyfull]

the correct way is to mix it with their feed, however if you only have 2 or 3 hens then you can give it individually (I used to but now mix it with their feed as I have collected quite a few girls). Most of us do use flubenvet as a preventative every 4 - 6 months.
Sounds like yours is just stretching, gaping all the time can be a sign of gape worm, thrush or something stuck in their throat.

[tamnwill]

  Thanks for explaining Joyfull x