The Chook Shed

The Chook Shed The Chook Shed - Sarah Robotham. Essential Products for your Feathered Friends

Time to grab some Poultry M8 and give your girls something good back to say thank you for all those lovely eggs and fun ...
08/03/2025

Time to grab some Poultry M8 and give your girls something good back to say thank you for all those lovely eggs and fun times :)

Head to www.thechookshed.co.nz to order yours today!

Flubendazole, Flubenol, Flubenvet - Anthelmintic ( Elanco )What is Flubendazole?Flubendazole is an anthelmintic drug tha...
04/03/2025

Flubendazole, Flubenol, Flubenvet - Anthelmintic ( Elanco )

What is Flubendazole?

Flubendazole is an anthelmintic drug that kills a wide range of internal parasites in chickens, turkeys, and game birds. It is used in human medicine vs internal parasites and is also thought to possibly hold some anti-cancer properties. It is used against the following worms in poultry:

Caecal worms
Hairworms
Gizzard worms
Roundworms
Gapeworms

* Its not a great wormer for Tapeworm infestations and if this is deemed to be a problem, double dose is used. ( it is questionable whether tapeworms pose a clinically significant threat to poultry but if the levels are severe, treatment is advised )

The problem I have with Flubenvet powder, is ensuring effective administration.

People over NZ are distributing the powder for sale for use in poultry. The consumer purchasing the powder is then throwing it over the pellets, grains or processed commercial feeds and thinks the poultry are then wormed. Job done.

Problems with this.

The powder needs to be mixed in a homogenous medium to deliver an even level of dosing over 7 days. Homogenous means mixed thoroughly & evenly through the feed. The only way of doing this is to use a mash. ( if you mix oil or similar with the pellets, you risk rancidity, uneven coating & spoilage issues. ) Mash is great for this task but you need a mixer to achieve an even mix when using 20kgs of feed. Using a stick in a bucket is not adequate. ( Dose is 25gm per 25kg of feed. Most chook food bags now are limited to a 20kg bag weight for H & S, so 20gms would be more accurate in this case )

This mash needs to be fed to all poultry over 7 days to be effective at eliminating adult parasites.

Hence, if the mix is poorly added/delivered, there is no guarantee you have actually 'wormed' your poultry, even if you have in your head!

Side Effects

One study highlighted some side effects chickens can experience when undergoing treatment with flubendazole. Most of the side effects in chickens range from overall malaise to diarrhea.

Some other side effects noticed were:

* Dull performance
* Lack of appetite
* Anemia
* Liver and kidney damage

* This is particularly noted when many times the recommended dose is used when people try to think outside the box with dose rates. Eg, feeding very small amounts of powder mixed into a piece of meat or bread to each hen. Dose accuracy is paramount!

Egg Withdrawal with Flubendazole in Chickens

While some sources suggest there is no egg withdrawal time when you treat chickens with flubendazole, the truth is that every medication you give your birds gets passed through into the eggs. Flubendazole is a drug used to treat parasitism in humans so if you are happy to consume eggs that have been laid from hens currently on a 7 day course of treatment, that's entirely your call.

Anyone eating the eggs while the birds are undergoing treatment would consume trace amounts of the drug, as well. Most vets recommend waiting for at least three to seven days after the end of the treatment before consuming the eggs.

Meat Withdrawal with Flubendazole in Chickens

The withdrawal time for meat consumption after flubendazole treatment is 7 days. This waiting time applies to chickens, geese, and turkeys.

Important
Treatment with Flubenol™ 5% gives optimal results only when strict hygiene of the poultry houses is practiced. This means if your hens are padding around in a no vegetation, p**p infested run & coop, chances of rapid reinfection are very high.

Myths of Poultry Worms & Parasitism

1. If I can't see any, they don't have any...
2. If they free range, they don't have any or at least a lot less...
3. I give garlic, diatomaceous earth or apple cider vinegar so my poultry don't have worms...
4. I treat only when I see a listless bird with a dirty bottom...
5. I don't want to treat my birds when they are laying really well as this is a lot of eggs to throw away... ( which is true but we have a cunning plan to tackle this problem which includes rotating your wormer's through the year and we will cover this next time )

Conclusion: Flubendazole is a very effective wormer, some pro's and cons to think about when using though to actually obtain an effective dosing regime.

We will talk about Faecal Egg Counts next time as well...

Internal parasites?* How do I know my girls have them?A: Weight loss, evidence of loose faeces around the vent area, slo...
23/02/2025

Internal parasites?
* How do I know my girls have them?
A: Weight loss, evidence of loose faeces around the vent area, slow movement, abdominal swelling, poor comb colour, dull & listless, poor feeding/ conversion rate.

* But won't I see them in the Pooh?
A: No, not unless they have been brooding & pass one large p**p each day or if there is a very large burden, generally the eggs passed are too small to visually spot with the naked eye. Sometimes tapeworm segments that are shed into the faeces are observed but unless the infection rate is high, these are not thought to have a significant effect on your birds health.

* Doesn't Diatomaceous earth kill worms if sprinkled on food regularly?
A: No. Studies show the birds regularly fed DE ( due to its high mineral rate ) are generally healthier & able to stave off parasitism to a degree vs birds not given access to DE. They still need worming as we keep birds generally in a confined / semi- confined area, forcing parasite egg exposure to moderate/ high levels.

* But my hens free range over acres so they should be parasite free?
A: They are probably eating more bugs & worms etc but these are often hosts for intermediate stages of worm development.

Times to worm over the year?
A: unless using Flubenol which has Nil egg withholding, Aviverm wormer has a 7 day egg withholding time. Due to this, I worm early springtime with Aviverm, peak summer with Flubenol ( mixed into a homogenous form & fed for 7 days ) & then Aviverm again in Autumn.

Rotating wormers is important as it helps reduce worm resistance over time. When birds are in peak lay over summer, you don't want to throw away 7 days worth of eggs 🥚. Hence Aviverm use before the girls get laying in Spring & again when they button off for moulting/ end of laying cycle in Autumn.

* Aviverm Poultry Wormer liquid - easy to use & available now via our website

www.thechookshed.co.nz

Willowbank Wildlife Reserve Rarebreeds Auction A great day out if you looking for something special or outside the norm!
15/02/2025

Willowbank Wildlife Reserve Rarebreeds Auction

A great day out if you looking for something special or outside the norm!

Can't find where to place a review?Its not that easy!Here is a link to take you to The Chook Shed's Google Maps link so ...
13/02/2025

Can't find where to place a review?
Its not that easy!

Here is a link to take you to The Chook Shed's Google Maps link so you can head to 'Review' and go for your life!
Many thanks Sarah xx

https://maps.app.goo.gl/3LZLM6xWcLpdynJXA

We would be super appreciative if you could help us get a bit more traffic by increasing our business rating on google b...
10/02/2025

We would be super appreciative if you could help us get a bit more traffic by increasing our business rating on google by giving us a quick review. Super appreciative! Thankyou xx

Link to the google review for The Chook Shed

https://maps.app.goo.gl/3LZLM6xWcLpdynJXA

My Chooks are starting to do a bit of a late summer moult so I imagine other peoples are looking a bit rough around the ...
26/01/2025

My Chooks are starting to do a bit of a late summer moult so I imagine other peoples are looking a bit rough around the edges as well.
Time to grab some Poultry M8 Nutrient Supplement from The Chook Shed www.thechookshed.co.nz and give them a boost before they start heading into a full moult which will be soon!
Gosh Summer has whipped through quickly!

The girls do get a bit sun bleaching going on over summer with some yellowing of the feathers. All a completely natural ...
25/01/2025

The girls do get a bit sun bleaching going on over summer with some yellowing of the feathers. All a completely natural process but not always aesthetically pleasing

Elf catching some rays. No chance of exposed skin around here...
15/12/2024

Elf catching some rays. No chance of exposed skin around here...

Compost heap dismount!Now the girls have pegged off on the laying with the heat, keep a watch out for Red Mite Explosion...
13/12/2024

Compost heap dismount!

Now the girls have pegged off on the laying with the heat, keep a watch out for Red Mite Explosions with these constantly hot days.

Check List for Pre Christmas Check

1. Head over to the coop at night once dark. If you can hear the birds ruffling and restless, odds are there is a mite problem. Mites are nocturnal usually and target the birds while on the perch and in nest boxes. The girls should all be quiet and sleeping still.

2. Run your hand under the perch rails looking for live adult mites and spend a moment looking at the perch ends where wood meets wood. These are the hot spots for nesting mite colonies which is why the birds on the end are the first birds to be affected usually as they are nearest to the mites.

NOTE: You wont generally see mites in the daytime unless the population explodes and they start looking for a meal 24 hours a day. By this stage, you have one who-a of a problem!!

3. Check the girls. Are they losing feathers or looking a bit bedraggled? Combs pale? Not keen on perching in the coop and wanting to roost outside the coop? These can be signs a problem is on the way!

4. Mite tool - Check out our mite tool ( an easy way to get an early heads up as to whether you have a problem brewing. Easy to check and very cheep! www.thechookshed.co.nz Website or Trade Me

5. I always go for prevention rather than treatment. Spray your wood areas with The Chook Shed Koop M8 Oil - Biodiesel blend manufactured from Recycled Rapeseed oil. Great for the environment and does the same job as Diesel without the nasties!. Preserves your wood and helps create a great base for you to puff on your Koop M8 powder to stop mite travel and kill adult mites in transit by scratching their exoskeleton and causing dehydration and death. Works by Mechanical means only and is coupled with Garlic Essential oil & powder.

Found just in time before Elf was swallowed up by the sinking grain mix..phew
13/12/2024

Found just in time before Elf was swallowed up by the sinking grain mix..phew

Elf was wondering if everyone has broody hens currently?Ours like to sit in the rollaway nest boxes ( New setup like the...
12/12/2024

Elf was wondering if everyone has broody hens currently?

Ours like to sit in the rollaway nest boxes ( New setup like these are for sale on our website xx ).

Bonus of this nestbox system:
1. Hens have to get up once a day for food/water. Any egg they have laid, rolls away into the collection chamber out the front.
2. Hens can sit for a few weeks but keep laying the odd eggs as they are trying to build a clutch to sit on and incubate. ( unfortunately the eggs keep disappearing on them )
3. Eventually they get bored with this cyclic disappointment and give up the brooding and rejoin the flock on their normal daily shenanigans.
4. Easy to remove and wash out when required.
5. Don't harbour mites as no bedding needed. They lay on the plastic insert area.
6. Awesome setup that reduces the chances of egg eating, broodies, eggs sitting about in the sun ( eggs rollaway so you can collect when it suits you and the hens can't sit on them and go broody when you forget to collect or get busy! )

Grass too long? YES!Elf made mention of the forage level being too high in this chook run. It gives worm larve too many ...
10/12/2024

Grass too long? YES!

Elf made mention of the forage level being too high in this chook run. It gives worm larve too many places to hide in the cool. They perish if the UV sunlight can get into the grasses lower levels.

Time to get out the strimmer Elf and get busy!

Taking a risk there Elf!. Sand angels turned into Russian Roulette as the wheat stash flew out of Elfs pockets into the ...
09/12/2024

Taking a risk there Elf!. Sand angels turned into Russian Roulette as the wheat stash flew out of Elfs pockets into the sand pit.

The girls love the sand pit, a great source of fine grit for their gizzards and an all weather dust bathing area to help keep those feathers in top form.

Elf kicking back on the hens play area / bivouac structure. Great place for some shade and hiding from the overhead pred...
09/12/2024

Elf kicking back on the hens play area / bivouac structure. Great place for some shade and hiding from the overhead predators that patrol the skies.

Elf trying to fend off the big hens from his wheat stash... good luck little buddy with that! Not much gets between the ...
06/12/2024

Elf trying to fend off the big hens from his wheat stash... good luck little buddy with that! Not much gets between the hens and their food!

Elf checking out the Feedomatic autofeeder. Too light to trigger the treadle, he needed a bit of a hand to open the hatc...
05/12/2024

Elf checking out the Feedomatic autofeeder. Too light to trigger the treadle, he needed a bit of a hand to open the hatch of the oyster grit feeder.

'I have two food feeders and one that just runs oyster grit as my little oyster grit dispensers are a bit ditty for 30 hens!'

Elf decided to visit the nest boxes and spied an egg being laid! what timing! Breakfast has been served :)
04/12/2024

Elf decided to visit the nest boxes and spied an egg being laid! what timing! Breakfast has been served :)

Address

327 Catherwoods Road, RD1, Rangiora, North Canterbury
Cust
7471

Telephone

+642102225976

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All I will say is...Y.U.M! The birds don't lie 🤥 😆 Get yours today @ The Chook Shed 🧡 #chicken #chickensofinstagram #backyardchickens

Time for a bit of a boost? Check out our products!! The Chook Shed 🧡 #chooks #chickensofinstagram #chickens

Read our comprehensive guide on coop building & materials to use before you build your coop! And WHY we recommend a coop vs not 🚫 #chicken #poultryfarming #poultry

Get some of the good stuff into your girls today! Visit The Chook Shed to get your hands on the goods $28.95 a pack with $10 flat rate shipping xx

Benefits of a Sandpit in with your Chooks ✅ 1. A dry place to bathe. Feather quality is super important & needs to be maintained with regular preening & birds need to be able to keep feathers free moving & fluffed up have better feather & insulative qualities. 2. Sea sand is the gold standard as it generally holds a good range of fine - coarser sand particles. Birds love fine sand for bathing & fluffing feathers in. 3. Red mites & lice hate salt & of course, fine dust. This is why birds roll & bathe in a shallow dusty depression, coating their feathers & skin in fine dust in a natural effort to rid themselves of unwanted hitchikers. 4. Diatomaceous earth is 70% silica. Sand is silica & my birds eat sand all the time & fluff their feathers in it daily. They are very healthy! 5. Birds require a range of grit levels for correct gizzard function & efficient feed grinding. The birds pick out what they need - clever things! 6. Chicks to adults love sea sand or sandpit sand. Pop it in a designated tyre or build pit so they have some available at all times. 7. Sand drains quickly & provides a constant dust bathing area. DE can be dusted into this & mixed in if required in a well ventilated area. DE is full of highly beneficial minerals for your Chooks to eat! Go grab some sand today & watch your birds delight in it!

Sandpits for hens? Is it beneficial or not?

Lime Application in Heavy traffic areas 👍...read post to see why?

Having compost bins in the run is awesome! All our household food scraps go in there & the girls pick & choose what they want. The rest rots away. We put layers of leaves in during autumn & poop sieved out in nets from the sand floor in the house. Works a treat!

Get into it! Pre Spring Nutrient loading! Poultry M8 Pack The Chook Shed #chickens #backyardchickens

Poultry M8 The Chook Shed #chickens #poultry #poultryfarming #lifestyleblogger #lifestyle #farming

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The Chook Shed

We started rearing heritage poultry 8 years ago and have built up our business from then. We now run between 6-7 breeds in our breeding groups on site each year and hatch 3000+ eggs each year. We supply laying pullets of these heritage breeds and ship using the ‘Petbus’ service, all over NZ. We vaccinate all our birds as day old chicks for Marek’s Disease. They then reside in high rise quarantine facility for 2-3 weeks before heading out onto free range pastures on high quality feed. They head for sale at 10-12 weeks of age by which time they are fully feathered, perching and using step on feeders. They are also trained to come to the sound of the wheat can shaking which makes returning them to a run or into the safety of housing at night easier. We try our best to breed non related birds that are healthy and robust. You cant beat your own free range eggs. These pullets should lay well for 4-5 + years if well looked after. They make great pets and well as producing lovely eggs and looking stunning while doing it!.