Do hens gape without having gapeworm?

[kayri]

A couple of days ago I noticed that my 7 month old easter-egger- Tilt gaped twice. I had just seen the u-tube on gapeworm (sorry I don't have the link anymore, think it was from BYC). Tilt in all other respects is a healthy bird, they free range in an electric fenced area, eat pellets, free-choice crushed oyster shell and treats such a oatmeal with yogurt, leftover pasta and other goodies in the morning. Today I noticed my 7 month old barred Rock- Adele gape 4 times in 1 minute. I instantly rushed in and searched BYC for gapeworm and followed these instructions. I didn't find any gapeworm and wondering if an occasional gape is normal. Has anyone else noticed this in their chickens?


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Along the same lines I assume that just because they scratch once in a while doesn't mean they have mites, right? I mean I scratch once in a while and I don't have mites. . .

I'd love to hear anyone else's experiences with the occasional gape. . .

Thanks Kay

 

[faykokoWV]

I'd like to hear the answer to this question as well. My Australorp occassionally looks like she's yawning. She only does it while on the roost and i've bee wonder if its gape worm or just a yawn.

 

[speckledhen]

Sometimes, they get a piece of food or straw stuck and will gape. Mine do it on occasion. With gapeworm, they will cough and shake their heads as the worms grow in the throat. Most of the time, just yawning doesn't mean gapeworm. Naturally, you should check in the throat if it's excessive or continues for quite awhile.

 

[kayri]

I have to stop watching u-tube videos on gapeworm. I feel like I am becoming a chicken hypochondriac, every time I read about a new chicken disease or parasite, I'm sure that one of my birds has it!!

I'll stop sticking q-tips down her throat.

Thanks for your reply!

Kay

 

[chickenbottom]

how exactly do we find out if its down there my chickens do this on occasion but one of my new chickens does it constantly?

 

[kayri]

Well, clearly I am not an expert, but the description from Wynette above, might work. I did it on my hen and she didn't seem to mind (I don't know why), but I didn't find anything. I hope you don't find a gapeworm, but let us know if you do using the q-tip approach.

 

[elmo]

I think the chickens may just be rearranging food in their crops. We spend quite a bit of time at at our zoo's free flight aviary that contains many different species of birds, and we've seen many of the birds there doing the same maneuver. Given the level of vet care these birds receive, I doubt if they have undiagnosed gapeworm.