Layers Pellets + Flubenvet®
Parasitic worms can cause chickens to suffer ill thrift, a drop in egg production, weak shells and pale yolks or may even result in death. Chickens can become infected by parasitic worms through:
- eating worm eggs or larvae found in soil
- eating worms or insects that contain parasitic worms
- wild birds or from worm eggs brought in on clothing or equipment
An infected chicken will pass worm eggs out into the environment in their droppings, acting as a potential source of infection to other birds.
Flubenvet® 2.5% Premix for Medicated Feedingstuff
Flubenvet® contains flubendazole, a medication that kills adult and early immature stages of common poultry worms. It has no adverse effects on a hen’s ability to lay eggs or the hatchability of those eggs. It is safe to eat eggs from hens being treated with Flubenvet®. Birds should not be slaughtered for human consumption during treatment or for a period of seven days after the end of the treatment period. Do not feed food that exceeds its ‘use by’ date.
Feeding
The product should be fed for seven days as you would feed a plain layers pellet. Each bird will eat a quantity of food that contains the right amount of medication for its bodyweight. We estimate that 10kg of feed contains enough medication to treat around 10 chickens (or 20kg for 20 chickens). Only the medicated food should be given for seven days and then replaced with the food the birds are usually given. The product is only recommended for feeding to chickens and geese. Available in 10kg & 20kg.
Frequency of worming
For backyard chickens it is usually adequate to treat every four to six months, for the seven-day dosing period. Flocks where there is a high infection pressure, due to heavy stocking or an existing worm infection, may need to be treated more frequently. Regular faecal egg counts will help determine the need for worming. Please seek further advice from your veterinary surgeon or animal health adviser.
Prevention
It is almost impossible to completely prevent parasitic worms infecting a flock. Good practices include:
- Feeding from feeders rather than on the ground
- Moving birds to clean grass regularly
- Avoiding muddy areas or putting down shingle to allow droppings to dry out
- Keeping grass short, as exposure to sunlight will destroy worm eggs
Remember that it is not always possible to identify signs of infection with the naked eye and regular worming is the best way to prevent birds suffering the effects of large worm burdens.
Information courtesy of Janssen Animal Health