Gape-worm

[kimgirl26]

Help...I think one of my hens has gape-worm. I have had 2 die in the last 3 weeks each a week apart and I was treating for a respiratory infections. I had been giving 1/2 cc of tylan 200 and there was no change and after 4 days dead. I have tried Vetrx and a few other things nothing is working. The hens have been lethargic, had their beaks open to breath and at the end gasping for air. They have also had a rattling (so to speak) trying to breath. The oldest one was 5 months this one now is 3.5 months. I have Ivermectin and want to know if i can use that, what's the dose, how long should I administer it and do I treat the entire flock?

 

[Eggcessive]

Some respiratory infections such as ILT, MG, and coryza, can look like gapeworm, but gapeworm should not cause rattling or rales. Do you see any watery or bubbly eye drainage or nasal drainage? Make sure they have good air ventilation in their coop, keeping it as cool as possible if it is hot where you live, and prevent mold and dust. Tylan can help treat bacterial disease, such as MG or coryza, but has no effect on ILT or infectious bronchitis viruses. To treat gapeworm, I would use SafeGuard Liquid Goat Wormer or Equine Paste 0.25 ml (1/4 ml) per pound of weight given orally for 3 straight days. Chickens with gapeworm usually cannot eat or drink due to respiratory distress, but make sure they are offered plenty of fluids. Here is a good link to read about respiratory diseases:
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

If you should lose another, I would refrigerate the body and ship it and any others to your state vet for a necropsy to identify the illness. Sometimes less common viruses, such as Newcastles Disease or Avian Influenza can cause a lot of deaths. Most respiratory diseases will make carriers of the flock, and it is a good idea to close the flock to birds going in or out of the flock, until these birds are gone or die of old age before repopulating. Here is a list of state vets and poultry labs:
http://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

 

[kimgirl26]

Some respiratory infections such as ILT, MG, and coryza, can look like gapeworm, but gapeworm should not cause rattling or rales. Do you see any watery or bubbly eye drainage or nasal drainage? Make sure they have good air ventilation in their coop, keeping it as cool as possible if it is hot where you live, and prevent mold and dust. Tylan can help treat bacterial disease, such as MG or coryza, but has no effect on ILT or infectious bronchitis viruses. To treat gapeworm, I would use SafeGuard Liquid Goat Wormer or Equine Paste 0.25 ml (1/4 ml) per pound of weight given orally for 3 straight days. Chickens with gapeworm usually cannot eat or drink due to respiratory distress, but make sure they are offered plenty of fluids. Here is a good link to read about respiratory diseases:
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

If you should lose another, I would refrigerate the body and ship it and any others to your state vet for a necropsy to identify the illness. Sometimes less common viruses, such as Newcastles Disease or Avian Influenza can cause a lot of deaths. Most respiratory diseases will make carriers of the flock, and it is a good idea to close the flock to birds going in or out of the flock, until these birds are gone or die of old age before repopulating. Here is a list of state vets and poultry labs:
http://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

Thank you for the links they will come in handy I'm sure...
They aren't eating or drinking. I have a window and a box fan on at all times plus the side door also open at all times and the roof vent. It's only been in the mid 70's maybe 80 for the last few weeks but it has been raining a little bit everyday and there are lots of bugs this year compared to last. No chickens are coming or going from the flock. No drainage from eggs or nose. They actually seem kind of dry and when i was trying to feed/water the last one I could only give her a tiny drop at a time. I also clean out the coop once a week to get rid of any dust etc. Their straw gets cleaned daily as far as sifting through it and i make sure their roosting bars are cleaned every morning and just before they go in for the night. There is no mold that I can see and this passed weekend I took everything out of the coop wiped it all down and now this last one got sick.

 

[Eggcessive]

I hope they start getting better soon. Let us know how it is going in a few days.

 

[kimgirl26]

Ok so my guy died the same day and not to sound morbid I did my own autopsy. I couldn't find anything abnormal with him but I did find a very long piece of straw stuck between his crop and esophagus so I think he may have choked. I did treat my flock with safeguard for worms and so far so good. Everyone is relatively healthy. I have two that have injured legs. Thank you all for your help I know I have found a good place to come with my chicken concerns.

 

[Eggcessive]

I am sorry that you lost your chicken, but glad they are doing better.