Dear BYCers,
I am suspecting that one of my 5 hens is infected with worms. She has been lethargic and pale for quite a long time (3-4 months). Her comb is pale and saggy and egg production has significantly dropped. I think I spotted a worm once in her dropping but can't be sure. From what I've researched, using a drug containing albendazole could be appropriate. Valbazen is one such drug but in my location (Turkey), Andazole is the brand name of that drug (it is a suspension just like Valbazen). It contains 2% albendazole. My questions are:
1) How much drug should I use? According to my calculation I should use 1ml to give 20mg of albendazole. 20 mg per kg of chicken seems to be the suggested dose. So should I give around 1.5 ml given that my sick chicken is about 1.5 kg?
2) How many times should I give this drug? How many times a day and for how many days?
3) What time of the day should I give the drug? Does it matter if the chickens are fed before giving the drug?
4) Should I avoid eating the eggs for some period? If so for how long? My interpretation is that this drug is used even for humans and in much larger doses. Given that only a fractional amount will be present in the eggs (if any), it should not be a big deal to continue eating the eggs.
5) Is it best to administer this drug using a needle-less syringe? Can a single person do it or should I get some help?
6) Any further advice?
Cheers,
Oguz
I am suspecting that one of my 5 hens is infected with worms. She has been lethargic and pale for quite a long time (3-4 months). Her comb is pale and saggy and egg production has significantly dropped. I think I spotted a worm once in her dropping but can't be sure. From what I've researched, using a drug containing albendazole could be appropriate. Valbazen is one such drug but in my location (Turkey), Andazole is the brand name of that drug (it is a suspension just like Valbazen). It contains 2% albendazole. My questions are:
1) How much drug should I use? According to my calculation I should use 1ml to give 20mg of albendazole. 20 mg per kg of chicken seems to be the suggested dose. So should I give around 1.5 ml given that my sick chicken is about 1.5 kg?
2) How many times should I give this drug? How many times a day and for how many days?
3) What time of the day should I give the drug? Does it matter if the chickens are fed before giving the drug?
4) Should I avoid eating the eggs for some period? If so for how long? My interpretation is that this drug is used even for humans and in much larger doses. Given that only a fractional amount will be present in the eggs (if any), it should not be a big deal to continue eating the eggs.
5) Is it best to administer this drug using a needle-less syringe? Can a single person do it or should I get some help?
6) Any further advice?
Cheers,
Oguz
