2 week old chick stretching neck and opening mouth wide

[neen269]

I know there have been posts on this in the past but Im really quite confused. Most sources say that she has Gapeworms. In researching remedies for this, they are mostly all for treating cattle and the feedstore said it would be toxic to give to a chick so young. Im at a loss. If she does have the worms and I dont treat, she and all the other chicks will die. If I do, which is the best treatment and what kind of dose do you give such a small chick.

Also I have tried parakeet grit and apple cider vinegar to no avail

Any help would be greatly appreciated, These are my first chicks and I will be heartbroken if anything happens to them.

 

[leadwolf1]

Relax, your chick is just fine They need to stretch and 'gape' their mouths to help rearrange their crops. Does she kind of squiggle her neck at the same time? I'm sure this is what you are seeing and your babies will be just fine

 

[neen269]

Yep thats what shes doing. I shouldnt have tried to research it, now I'm in a panic

 

[neen269]

Oh and thank you

 

[neen269]

I forgot to mention that the thing that really scares me is that my husband thought it would be cute last week to throw earthworms in the brooder

 

[tehbee]

whats wrong with earthworms in your brooder as long as they're small ones

 

[neen269]

They can catch gapeworms from eating the earthworms. At the time I didnt think anything of it but now that shes acting weird it worries me

 

[leadwolf1]

I don't think gapeworm is a common problem and chickens eat worms all the time without getting it. Plus, it would take time for the eggs to hatch and the worms to get big enough to cause a problem. Your chick is just fine....she is just rearranging her breakfast

 

[dawg53]

I don't think gapeworm is a common problem and chickens eat worms all the time without getting it. Plus, it would take time for the eggs to hatch and the worms to get big enough to cause a problem. Your chick is just fine....she is just rearranging her breakfast

x2

 

[leadwolf1]

I just thought of something...do your chicks have access to grit? If they ate worms, they need grit in order to digest them. Grit is necessary any time something that isn't water soluble is added to their diet.