[thenovice]

Just got my results back from the vet from my first ever egg count. She was ever so helpful, and told me that she had found cocidia in the sample, and that it needs to be sorted to protect the lambs! Would never have treated for it before, without knowing it was there, as it is a separate drench. Must say, im now a total convert to egg counts, and would totally recommend them 

[funkyfish]

I used to do hundreds of them when I was in mixed practice.  They don't take long and help you to only treat when necessary. So can save you money on wormers.

[suziequeue]

What I don't understand is how to get a good sample. Presumably a fresh sample would be best so I guess you wouldn't have to wait long before you saw somebody doing droppings.


Do you then extrapolate one sheep's results to the whole flock?

[Bionic]

suziequeue, I was asking my vets earlier in the week about the testing. Their advice was to put several sheep somewhere like an empty trailer, with no straw, for a couple of hours. Then pick up the poo and put it into a plastic bag. They said they don't want a bucket full just a bit all the poo's that have been done.

[thenovice]

I only have 5, so I wandered about their field trying to find the freshest poo I could find, and taking a little scoop from about 10 different ones, and putting them into a small sample pot the vet gave us. I would presume that if one ewe has certain worms, more will have them because they dump and graze from the same ground. 

[Bionic]

Forgot to say, but as thenovice says, it has to be fresh poo

[suziequeue]

Thanks Bionic.


I bought testing kits last year from Supplies for Smallholders but never got around to doing it. I want to be more proactive about worming so must get that done this spring