I have a 10 week old EE pullet that seems to be "gaping". Today is the first day I noticed it. She is housed with 4 other birds of same age, next to my older layers coop (kind of a "getting to know you" arrangement). The whole group is somewhat timid, perhaps after having a tough time of it when my rooster killed one of them. They have a run and a coop of their own. The coop has 3 1/2 sides, but is set with its back to the wind, and our temps are mild. If anything, they get too hot during the day. They all do appear to be eating, but they retreat to their coop when they see me coming, so I cannot observe closely. There are no loose or unusual looking stools in the run,
She is bright and alert, eyes are clear and no nasal discharge that I can see. She does not feel thin to me, but when I picked her up just now, her crop appeared to be empty. BUT it is the end of a hot afternoon and I know she has been inside that coop all day.
My first thought was gapeworm, but my research is indicating that it is fairly rare. She just looks like she is yawning. HELP. This is the beginning of my replacement layers, and 25 day old pullets are due to arrive on Monday!
She is bright and alert, eyes are clear and no nasal discharge that I can see. She does not feel thin to me, but when I picked her up just now, her crop appeared to be empty. BUT it is the end of a hot afternoon and I know she has been inside that coop all day.
My first thought was gapeworm, but my research is indicating that it is fairly rare. She just looks like she is yawning. HELP. This is the beginning of my replacement layers, and 25 day old pullets are due to arrive on Monday!