TREATING WORMS IN POULTRY WITH FLUBENVET®

Where can worm eggs and
Larvae be found?

  • On contaminated soil or bedding material.
  • Inside earthworms, insects and wild birds (intermediate hosts).
  • Stuck to footwear, equipment and even cats and dogs.

 Prevention

It is almost impossible to completely prevent parasitic worms but there are certain good practices that can help:

  • Always feed from feeders rather than direct on the ground.
  • If possible, always move your poultry to clean grass on a regular basis.
  • Avoid muddy areas. Put down pea shingle in strategic areas to clean feet and allow droppings to dry.
  • Keep grass short to expose worm eggs to sunlight which destroys them.

Many animals suffer from worms from time to time and chickens, turkeys and geese are no exception.  Birds that are kept outdoors and have contact with garden soil or indoors on sawdust, straw or other litter materials can pick up parasitic worms.

Parasitic worms can live in the guts and respiratory tracts of chickens and other birds. There are many different types including roundworms, hairworms and gapeworms.  The worms all produce eggs which the bird excretes in its droppings.  The worm eggs are not immediately infectious - they first have to develop so that a larval immature worm can hatch from the egg when conditions are right.  The worm egg could be eaten by a bird, or the egg could hatch and the larval worm could be eaten.  In some cases another species such as an earthworm will eat the egg and when the earthworm is eaten the larval parasitic worm will be released inside the bird. Once infection is established it continues as each female worm lays thousands of eggs each day which then contaminate the environment in a constantly repeating cycle.  Worm eggs on the ground can remain infectious for years and can resist disinfectants.

Chickens with worms may lay fewer, smaller eggs with poor shell colour and strength and pale yolks.  Untreated infections may cause weight loss, dishevelled appearance and death.

To worm your poultry feed Heygates layers pellets with Flubenvet® as the only feed your chickens eat for 7 consecutive days.  Eggs may be presented for human consumption during treatment when used as directed, but birds should not be slaughtered for human consumption until 7 days after the end of treatment.  Flubenvet is a prescription only medicine so your supplier will require a prescription from your vet or a suitably qualified person.

 Worming - the best policy

  • WORM before putting chickens out to pasture.
  • WORM all new birds.
  • WORM every 3 months - Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.
  • WORM more frequently as recommended by a vet or animal health advisor if a worm problem is suspected.