Am I worming my chickens too soon??

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Hi all,
My bag of marriages flubenvet pellets arrived Friday, and I started the treatment yesterday. They aren't keen on the pellets, so mixed into a mash which they are fine with.

But I've been "reading up" this afternoon, and i'm now doubting if i'm worming them too young. Matilda (but more likely to be Matthew) is approx 12 weeks old today, and meggy and martha are approx 9 weeks old today.

There seems to be "much vagueness" surrounding worming with flubenvet about ages, dosage etc

Thankyou

Clare :-)19
 
I'm not sure why you feel they need worming so soon, if they've been kept in clean conditions and show no signs of worms. When i bought a couple of chicks from an experienced breeder thei Spring, he advised me to worm them at about 16-18 weeks, and I did all the older hens at the same time before introducing the growers to their pen. Also, with Marriages pellets, theres' the issue of changing their feed to a different type of food, ie layers pellets, maybe of a diiferent brand than what they're used to, for a week, which is not a good idea in my opinion, especially as at their age they should still be on growers pellets for several more weeks in any case.
 
Thanks Marigold. One of them kept stretching neck and head skywards, and I read that is a possible sign of gapeworm...but i've also read since then that they often do this to move food from their crop to their gizzard. I do keep them in clean conditions. So maybe I should withdraw and do the worming regime in approx 6 weeks time?
Thankyou
 
Yes. Definitly too early. We were too late however at 26 weeks, as they had been out for nearly 20 weeks and some were pooing worms. Marigold's breeder sounds about right at 18 weeks. Never had a case of gapeworm, although some showed signs, Flubenvet made no difference to them.
 
Thanks
I've removed the pellets, and will worm them at 16-18 weeks. I'm still reading on posts that people worm as soon as they're on to grass
 
Once a course of medication (antibiotics and wormers in particular) has started, it should not be cut short otherwise resistance to the drug can build up.
 
I've read a few times that they can be wormed from about 8 weeks old. If they're outside they could have worms so no harm in treating them already.
Also check the Best Before on your feed - sometimes it won't last 7 weeks, depending on how long its been at the supplier etc

I agree that you should carry on worming them and not stop :)
 
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