2019 Peafowl

[Tkpfowl]

I love her she’s awesome. Unfortunately we have a bout of gapeworm goin on right now so I have a fun weekend of bird catching ahead of me, can’t wait. Hopefully she starts laying for me after cuz she hasn’t started yet.

 

[KsKingBee]

I love her she’s awesome. Unfortunately we have a bout of gapeworm goin on right now so I have a fun weekend of bird catching ahead of me, can’t wait. Hopefully she starts laying for me after cuz she hasn’t started yet.

How do you know you have gapeworm? Fecal exam or physical exam?

 

[Tkpfowl]

Visual inspection. We had gapeworm Last year on our property and symptoms seem pretty text book. One hen is stretching out her neck like something is stuck and gaping her mouth, she’s shaking her head a bit , and she has a cough. I’ve noticed a little wing droop prior but I thought that was a sign she was starting to lay. Our other hen wasn’t drooping her wings and I’m pretty sure she wasn’t laying either. So I thought that made sense.

 

[Tkpfowl]

The hens are the only ones who seem affected, the cock seems to have no issue. They are all still eating to but I have notice one hen start to get a little sluggish. I have heard some sneezing and mucus from our chickens and I though maybe respiratory, but the symptoms in my peahen fit gapeworm. Is it possible that they have gapeworm and a respiratory issue at the same time?

 

[KsKingBee]

Gapeworm is fairly rare, it seems to more prevalent in the Northeast. If you frequent Peacocks Only facebook page it is comical how many people will jump to the conclusion that every bird that opens its mouth, gurgles, or stretches its neck is 'GAPEWORM!!!'.

If you do not have access to a vet that will run a fecal exam for you the easiest physical exam you can do is the swab test. Take a q-tip, (a six-inch swab is better) and insert it into the airway of the bird as far as you can reach, press it upwards and twist as you pull it out. If you see small red threads about 3/8" long you have gapeworms, if not you have a respiratory problem.

 

[Tkpfowl]

We had a vet last year tell us it was gapeworm, she was an equine vet, but she had it with her chickens as well. When I get home tonight I’ll check their airway. Should I go straight down the center or stay to the left or right side as with oral meds?

 

[casportpony]

We had a vet last year tell us it was gapeworm, she was an equine vet, but she had it with her chickens as well. When I get home tonight I’ll check their airway. Should I go straight down the center or stay to the left or right side as with oral meds?

gapes live in the trachea .

Please note that the peafowl image is courtesy of Craig Hopkins of Hopkins' Alternative Livestock

 

[Tkpfowl]

So then I should swap down the center of the throat correct?

 

[casportpony]

So then I should swap down the center of the throat correct?

If one were going to swab, that is where you would do it. If I suspected gapes I would not swab, I would just treat with albendazole (Valbazen) or fenbendazole (Safeguard) three to five days in a row.

Gapes are pretty rare, so I would probably treat for a respiratory infection too.

 

[Tkpfowl]

I’ll do the swab first because I would hate to deworm when they don’t need it. If I see red worms I’ll definitely hit them with safeguard. If not I’ll treat for respiratory