I haven't done a post before on the health matters of the chickens, probably because there hasn't really been any health issues to post about, there still isn't any health issues but when worming them this morning I thought I would do a post on how I deal with health issues.
Worming is fairly straight forward, I weigh out the amount I need for the amount of birds I am worming, I use Verm X it comes in a pelleted form so very easy to dispense, as the amount of birds can vary from month to month new ones added, roosters dispatched, I cant work with a set measure, 2.5grm per bird for 3 days once a month is the recommended amount.
so for my flock of 14 its 35grms, rather than mess about weighing it out each time, I mark the scoop
makes it all that little bit easier, also Martin then knows if he is on chicken duty what the amount is he has to give, to make sure they all get some,
I throw it down in the run before they get any fruit or veg, when they are first let out, this way they all run to eat what they think is a treat, (sorry for the bad photo sun was in the wrong place) you can add it to there feed but as I keep the feed containers full they have layers ad lib, I need to make sure they are all getting the wormer and not just some of them.
I like Verm X because
There is no egg withdrawal period, nothing worse than having to throw away a weeks worth of eggs
It is based on herbs, no nasty chemicals
Approved by vets, speaking of which as much as I like my poultry, I would never take a chicken to the vet, to me they are not pets, if it is injured and not going to make a recovery it would be dispatched, in the past 5 years we have only dispatched one chicken with health issues and that was a prolapse, something that would happen again and again and put her at risk of being attacked by the others, chickens are really nasty to each other at times.
Our egg laying chickens have either died of old age at about 7/8 years or being killed by predators.
Every three months the chicken house gets treated for red mite,
nasty little insects that hide by day in nooks in crannies, then come out and feast on the blood of chickens when they are roosting.
We also add louse powder or DE powder to nest boxes, bedding. and sand boxes.
Grit they have access to at all times, we just top up the container in the chicken house.
When they are going through a moult I add apple cider vinegar to there water
easy to make out of apple peelings and cores.
Access to clean water is essential, our chooks get rain water as do the other livestock from the rain catchment systems,
giving them access to fresh ground is also essential, at the moment we have to jig the run around, when we move them to new quarters later this year there will be rotational runs or them, I will also be planting shrubs in there runs or them. Unfortunately we cant let them free range because of the buzzards, but I do what I can to make sure they have a good environment to live in.
It all gets written on the wall planner so its easy to keep on top of it. It is also there for us both to see so there are no errors in who has what and when.
Your chickens sound to me to be living in the lap of luxury Dawn. Isn't it awful that they can#t roam freely at the moment - ours are really missing the fields.
ReplyDeleteThey have a good life
DeleteThanks for sharing how you do this :)
ReplyDeletewould be interested in how you do yours
DeleteThat's a neat planner!
ReplyDeleteI like to see things at a glance
DeleteI am awe of the way you deal with all the responsibilities! Jx
ReplyDeleteThey are dependent on us to meet there needs
DeleteVery well cared for chickens xx
ReplyDeleteWe raise them for meat and eggs so they have to be
DeleteYou obviously care about you animals and it's lovely to hear all about it. I would love to keep chickens, perhaps one day now I know some of the things I'll need to do.
ReplyDeleteI hope one day you will manage to get a few
DeleteWe never took a chicken to the vet either. At £7 or £8 for a new point of lay hen and MUCH more for a vet visit it certainly wouldn't be worth it.Egg sales were our main income so hens were also dispatched when their eggs became poor quality to sell.
ReplyDeleteIf they were a pet then I suppose its different but I couldnt imagine keeping a chicken as a pet
DeleteJust like having children :-)
ReplyDeleteYes depend on us for everything
DeleteSo much to consider that those of us who are not animal keepers have no idea of! You are very organised with it all with your planner though!
ReplyDeleteI have to be organised otherwise I could never keep track of who has what and when
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