[Aunt Sally]

Verm-x is a second rate wormer in my opinion.  It's herbal and just makes it tricky for the worms to hang on in there.  It doesn't kill them so it is more of a preventative than a cure.

Flubenvet is the only wormer for hens that I'd use.

[Aunt Sally]

You didn't say what the chicken sitters said about the smell and flies.

[Lady Lottie]

I gave mine both....bit overkill maybe....but they never had worms!

I'm going.  There's a distinct lack of smileys on this thread.

[chickenlady]

I gave mine both....bit overkill maybe....but they never had worms!

I'm going.  There's a distinct lack of smileys on this thread.

  :happy: :happy:

[Aunt Sally]

Blarney is very worried.  I'm not sure smileys are appropriate LL !

[Aunt Sally]

Thank you dear     - woll they cure the squitts ?

[chickenlady]

can you get flubenvet without prescription now? If not could one of us send Blarney some? (the smilies were for LL, im not making light of the situation )

[Roughlee Handled]

can you get flubenvet without prescription now? ..............

Yes you can
here is a link
http://www.google.co.uk/products?q=flubenvet+60g&hl=en

[Blarney]

Let's all smile!   

I know I love my girls and I am doing my best - I've just got to do better!

So I give them flubenvet and that will deal with any worms that they might have,  then I'll keep a check on their poo and will go from there until I can take one or all of them to the vets?

The neighbour didn't say a word about it.  We've had a lot of rain here so the garden is muddy still.  We had hoped that the bark chips may help but it looks like I'm goign to have to dig those out of the run.  The flies have eased off today despite the fact that the sun is shining.  I think there were about half a dozen over the run yesterday.

I'm beginning to think that I should have bought a bunny!

[poultrygeist]

I get the feeling Blarney is feeling a bit overwhelmed. I would suggest having a selective read of some of the information threads where a lot of the realities are clearly spelt out and hopefully then you can get a better feel of what might need to be done.

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?board=13.0

I have a lot of flubenvet. 

It's freely available from some feed suppliers and poultry suppliers. You have to sign a register to get it, but nothing more.

I would look to raking out any litter in the run, diggin over and replacing with bark.
If you can afford to, cover the run with a solid roof or as a stop-gap, polythene stretched over on a framework which will stop the ground becoming sour, smelly and unhygeinic.
If you can give them more space, it will be less 'stressed' make the hens happier.

Rob

[Blarney]

Thank you.  Tears are all gone and now I can focus on what needs doing.
I'll order some worm stuff on line today and will dig out their run and put new bark down.  I'll also have a read of the bits Rob kindly sent with his last message.

Honestly, all this and I have four beaks tapping at my patio door, they look like they dont' have a care in the world!

[Roughlee Handled]

FOUR, 4 OMG OMG OMG.
One must have escaped.
 
Sorry that just me panicking 

[Blarney]

ha ha!! One is happily digging in what was going to be a vegetable patch!

[Roughlee Handled]

I can relax.  Feeeeeeeeeeeeeeew.

[Aunt Sally]

You're doing a grand job now Blarney and I think you have a better understanding of the things you need to find out about chickens too.  Phone your sister for a chat and ask her questions, she should be able to advise you how to keep them healthy and happy

Rob's suggestions are excellent as usual.  A roof over the run really helps to keep things fresh and cuts down the risk of infection.

Try to find a vet if you can, you never know when you may need one in a hurry