Gapeworm? Pics

[dawg53]

If it is indeed gapeworm, the valbazen will kill them, and all other worms they may have. Ysaville provided you with the correct dosage. Gapeworm will require several dosings. I would dose them at least 3 times, 10 days apart if I were you. If necessary, dose them a 4th time. Withdrawal will be 14 days after the last dosing.
If they still gape/choke after the 4th dosing (if necessary,) I would suggest you might be dealing with a respiratory disease instead of gapeworm.

 

[Alfred's Mama]

If it isn't gapeworm it could be something as simple as a respiritory infection, I wouldn't go investigating for something stuck as you could do more damage than good, if you truly do suspect something is lodged in there ask a vet to investigate. What are her droppings like? The danger in treating for gapeworm even if she was due it anyway is that it could be something else and whatever it is is being addressed with ivermectin instead of what she needs, giving whatever is causing the problems alot of time to do alot of damage, illnesses can kill very fast in chickens unfortunately and she has been sick for a while now. I think if the Ivermectin hasn't helped so far and you haven't found worm eggs or the worms themselves it's very unlikely to be gapeworm, most likely an infection or an illness of some kind, if you really can't afford to take her to the vet and have it pinpointed there some pictures of her droppings would be very helpful for us to advise you on. Generally infections are treated with 10% Baytril, calculated per lb of bodyweight - although be aware it can only help with bacterial infections, a virus requires a different type of medicine, as does coccidiosis. I'm sorry you're having to deal with this, it's horrible when they get sick but you're definitely in the right place.

 

[dawg53]

Alfred's Mama :

If it isn't gapeworm it could be something as simple as a respiritory infection, I wouldn't go investigating for something stuck as you could do more damage than good, if you truly do suspect something is lodged in there ask a vet to investigate. What are her droppings like? The danger in treating for gapeworm even if she was due it anyway is that it could be something else and whatever it is is being addressed with ivermectin instead of what she needs, giving whatever is causing the problems alot of time to do alot of damage, illnesses can kill very fast in chickens unfortunately and she has been sick for a while now. I think if the Ivermectin hasn't helped so far and you haven't found worm eggs or the worms themselves it's very unlikely to be gapeworm, most likely an infection or an illness of some kind, if you really can't afford to take her to the vet and have it pinpointed there some pictures of her droppings would be very helpful for us to advise you on. Generally infections are treated with 10% Baytril, calculated per lb of bodyweight - although be aware it can only help with bacterial infections, a virus requires a different type of medicine, as does coccidiosis. I'm sorry you're having to deal with this, it's horrible when they get sick but you're definitely in the right place.

What meds do you use to treat a virus?​

 

[Reyvaughn]

If it was a respiratory thing, wouldn't she have some other symptoms other than sneezing and gaping like she isn't getting air? There is no head shaking, no discharges, no diarrhea (can't tell you what's in her dropping, to many birds to know who's who's), her color is good, except the darkening of the comb and until yesterday, she was running around foraging and acting normal. Yesterday is the first day I seen her with her head withdrawn and slightly huddled and it didn't last long, but she did it twice in a few hours time. Last night is the first time she's had an empty crop at bedtime, too. Her gaping is getting worse, but the sneezing has remained at the same frequency.

It's not that I can't afford to take her to the vet - I choose not to. She (and her Golden Sebright 'sister', Glitter) was a packing peanut in a breed I didn't want. Again, I am not saying I don't care, I just don't care that much to take her to the vet. Sorry if that offends anyone, but they are not froo-froo pets to me. I have a couple I really like and I may even shed a tear if I lose, but they are here to make me food either in egg form or whole bird.

 

[dawg53]

Are they eating and drinking normally? If so, it may not be gapeworm. Gapeworm clog the trachea causing the bird to literally choke, gasping to breathe, straining or shaking it's neck to dislodge the worms...like something stuck in the throat. Trying to breathe is priority #1, not eating or drinking. The bird would starve to death.
There are several respiratory diseases that could mimic gapeworm and visa versa. MG comes to mind. You could cull your sickest bird and examine her trachea yourself if you wish...then you would know whether it's gapeworm or not. Here's what gapes look like in a chickens windpipe:

 

[Impress]

EW! I mean, thank you for the informative pictures! (EW though!)

 

[Reyvaughn]

Quote:
She was eating somewhat normally until recently. Now that she's really straining to breathe, she isn't eating/drinking. I hope it's gapeworm... Still, with MG, she should still have some other discharge after 2wks of this, though... Right? It's just the sneezing (dry sneezing) and the gaping.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

The thing to keep in mind with chickens, is that it's not just about that one chicken, it's about the health of the whole flock. If you can get a diagnosis, it lets you make decisions about the management of the whole flock.

 

[chicken grandma]

Quote:
Amen to that.
I spend almost no money at all on medicines for my chickens. But a fecal check to a vet for $20 bucks can tell you if your whole flock has gapeworm, or coccidia, or round worms and a lot of other information. Then you can save money by not ordering and treating your flock for things that you THINK/GUESS they might have. Also your flock will be healthier if you DON'T give Ivermectin or another wormer to try to kill a worm that you have no proof that your flock has.


Think of the money you save on wormer. Think of eggs you don't have to throw away!
One small ziplock bag with some poop in it to an avian vet. And you can save money that way!

Because if I am understanding you correctly, you just ordered a second wormer and are getting ready to worm the whole flock for a second time and throw away their eggs?

 

[Reyvaughn]

No. I wormed her and two others. They are not laying. They are all 6-9 months and AGAIN, with the weather we've had, I want to worm them for their health - you know, like a good doggy/kitty/horsey owner who does their pets every month to maintain health.

I am treating her for gapeworm because it's the most likely ailment. After two weeks, if it was MG/CRD, she should have other symptoms related to said ailment. And, really, I don't understand why I am getting nagged because I chose to diagnose on my own or with the help of this forum like so many other people on here. I choose to treat on my own as well. And to get criticized for routine health maintenance?

In the mean time, she's wasting away, though. She can't breathe and I can't see her suffering any longer.