Gapeworm- Do I need to treat entire flock?

[hebertchick12]

I just had a young pullet die from gapeworm. It was an awful experience. She was gone before I could even figure out what was wrong. My question, do I need to worm my entire flock now? What do I use... I read that typical roundworm dewormer won't work, that I should use Safeguard.

 

[casportpony]

Safeguard given several days in a row will treat gapes. If I were going to treat for gapes I would also treat for capillary worms, and the dose I use is 0.23ml per pound orally for 5 days in a row.

-Kathy

 

[hebertchick12]

What is the dosage to put it in their water? I have 30+ chickens.

Safeguard given several days in a row will treat gapes. If I were going to treat for gapes I would also treat for capillary worms, and the dose I use is 0.23ml per pound orally for 5 days in a row.

-Kathy

 

[dawg53]

I just had a young pullet die from gapeworm. It was an awful experience. She was gone before I could even figure out what was wrong. My question, do I need to worm my entire flock now? What do I use... I read that typical roundworm dewormer won't work, that I should use Safeguard.

How did you determine it was gapeworm?

 

[hebertchick12]

I researched. They are in a chicken tractor, so on the ground daily. She would stretch her neck out to gasp for air and then put her head down eyes closed, looked like she was dying. She would hiccup, like a loud screech every now and then. And before she died she was thrashing her entire body all over the pet taxi I had her in. She wouldn't eat or drink. I thought she maybe had something in her throat, but I looked and saw nothing. I tried to make her vomit, nothing. Crop was empty. No discharge from eyes, nose, or mouth. Rattled breathing. She was gone 20 minutes after I noticed her symptoms.

 

[hebertchick12]

That pen is a grow out pen.. Have about 10 in there... So I treated them individually. But there was no way I could catch all the ones in my main flock. I put a dose in their water. I know they are going to drink t because it is horribly hot here and they are going through water like crazy.

 

[dawg53]

That pen is a grow out pen.. Have about 10 in there... So I treated them individually. But there was no way I could catch all the ones in my main flock. I put a dose in their water. I know they are going to drink t because it is horribly hot here and they are going through water like crazy.

Actually, gapeworm are rare in chickens. If you still have the body, or if it happens to another bird; slice open the windpipe vertically. Then if you see the red "Y" shaped worms, it's gapeworm for sure. See pics below.
There might be other possibilities since your other birds arnt infected: Moldy feed, botulism, capillary worms. Rattled breathing could be the onset of some type of respiratory issue or some type of air sac problem...only a necropsy could tell.