Aspergillosis or gape worms?

[Yeji]

My new chicks have recently started to gasp (sometimes), shake their head rapidly, and one of them seems to sleep a lot and not eat as much as the others. Apparently, they shake their heads and gasp when they have gapeworms, but my chicks are only a week and a half old, so it’s not very likely. It could be aspergillosis, but that doesn’t explain the rapid head shaking (they haven’t done that before, at least not this many times in one day). Which one seems more likely, and how do I treat it?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Can I ask what breed they are? My Cornish bantams all have a 'tic' that I've decided must just be a breed or at least genetic thing

 

[Mk_lanch]

dont rule out brooder pnemonia, ive just had 2 chicks die from it (both under 1 week old) . it was either that or aspergillosis.
i recommend you to make a drink for them using apple cider vinegar, crush garlic and fresh oregano. my last remaining chick was sneezing etc and after being on this drink for 2-3 days is bouncing around and acting fine. so fingers crossed

 

[LaFleche]

My new chicks have recently started to gasp (sometimes), shake their head rapidly, and one of them seems to sleep a lot and not eat as much as the others. Apparently, they shake their heads and gasp when they have gapeworms, but my chicks are only a week and a half old, so it’s not very likely. It could be aspergillosis, but that doesn’t explain the rapid head shaking (they haven’t done that before, at least not this many times in one day). Which one seems more likely, and how do I treat it?

How many chicks do you have and what is the size of your brooder?
Where is the brooder situated?
What is the temperature in the brooder?
What kind of bedding do you use?
How often do you change the water?

The head-shaking might be caused by the fluff that gets loose and the poking pinfeathers.
The gaping could be a sign of very full crop or lack of oxygen.

Did you check the feed for strange smell like rancid or mouldy? And have a look at the expiration date too.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

My new chicks have recently started to gasp (sometimes), shake their head rapidly, and one of them seems to sleep a lot and not eat as much as the others. Apparently, they shake their heads and gasp when they have gapeworms, but my chicks are only a week and a half old, so it’s not very likely. It could be aspergillosis, but that doesn’t explain the rapid head shaking (they haven’t done that before, at least not this many times in one day). Which one seems more likely, and how do I treat it?

Where are you located in the world?
Please post some photos of the chicks, their poop and your brooder.
If you can also get video of their actions that may be helpful, upload video to youtube and provide a link.

Where did the chicks come from?
What are you feeding?
What is the temperature in your brooder?

Aspergillosis a.ka. Brooder Pneumonia is a possibility when small chicks are gasping, head tremors can accompany Pneumonia, but you mention rapid head shaking. There is no effective treatment for Brooder Pneumonia
Imho, they are too young for Gapeworm.

Any coughing, sneezing, runny eyes or mucous?
Do you notice if they have the rapid head shaking only when you talk or if there is noise?
Any chance they are getting some bugs on them - ants, lice or mites?


Here's a video of chicks that do have Brooder Pneumonia (Aspergillosis)

 

[Yeji]

Can I ask what breed they are? My Cornish bantams all have a 'tic' that I've decided must just be a breed or at least genetic thing

They are Isa browns and Rhode Island reds.
I am starting to think that they are just doing this to digest since they don’t seem to be sick. So hopefully they’re just digesting?

 

[Yeji]

How many chicks do you have and what is the size of your brooder?
Where is the brooder situated?
What is the temperature in the brooder?
What kind of bedding do you use?
How often do you change the water?

The head-shaking might be caused by the fluff that gets loose and the poking pinfeathers.
The gaping could be a sign of very full crop or lack of oxygen.

Did you check the feed for strange smell like rancid or mouldy? And have a look at the expiration date too.

I think that their crop was just really full, because they aren’t sick and are eating well. The brooder isn’t big because I only have three chicks (when they grow up they will be sent to a coop with ten other chickens). I change their water and bedding almost everyday and their food isn’t expired because I have bought it at the store very recently. I give them small amounts of food so that it doesn’t get moldy. I think that I was just worrying more than I should have that week because they had started to “gag” a lot more than they used to (sometimes multiple times in a row for a few minutes) and they had weird colored poop. They don’t do that anymore and their poop is okay, so they were probably just really full. Anyways, thank you for the reply!

 

[LaFleche]

Thank you for the update, I am happy for you that all is well now.