The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Louise Gaunt on June 21, 2014, 08:48:47 pm

Title: Faecal egg count
Post by: Louise Gaunt on June 21, 2014, 08:48:47 pm
I recently have had some problems with my hens just not doing so well, and after a phone consultation with our local farm vets, they advised a faecal egg count. I took samples in, had a phone consultation about the results, ( they needed more rigorous worming so I have used the hints about mixing Flubenvet in oil to make it stick). We'd got the bill today - £68.00. Is this high? I feel it is quite expensive for what I have had so far, especially if I use Chicken vet FEC service which is £14.75 for the kit and lab work. Can I ask what sort of costs other have incurred for hen FEC? Thanks
Title: Re: Faecal egg count
Post by: shygirl on June 21, 2014, 08:52:35 pm
wev never been charged for a phone call.....yet.
does your bill have a breakdown of costs?
Title: Re: Faecal egg count
Post by: Louise Gaunt on June 21, 2014, 09:58:03 pm
The cost appears to be purely for the lab work for the faecal egg count.
Title: Re: Faecal egg count
Post by: Victorian Farmer on June 21, 2014, 10:07:05 pm
I used to treat hens for coughs bad colds unwell etc and charge a tenner to people with small flocks the vets have had me stopt  .I carnt get tylin etc and hens have to be culled as costs have gone mad /so sad I carnt fix them
Title: Re: Faecal egg count
Post by: shygirl on June 21, 2014, 10:42:42 pm
our vets send the samples away so we just send ours away direct.
Title: Re: Faecal egg count
Post by: HesterF on June 21, 2014, 11:34:02 pm
Our vets can check for worms at the surgery so it wouldn't be anywhere near that high for a worm count. But I guess it does depend on their facilities - as soon as they have to send off for labs it mounts up quickly.
Title: Re: Faecal egg count
Post by: shygirl on June 22, 2014, 12:22:10 am
our vets send the samples away so we just send ours away direct.

im sure its only about £10 per test mind.
Title: Re: Faecal egg count
Post by: Womble on June 22, 2014, 09:13:09 am
im sure its only about £10 per test mind.

Yes, we paid £20 the other day for two counts - sheep and poultry. Our vets are trying to promote the use of FECs because they're getting increasingly worried about resistance building up to wormers. Also, the sheep management plan they gave us says we should be submitting FECs every couple of months, so they'll still make their money of course (unless I 'forget' to do them that regularly that is).