Gapeworm Question

[vtara16]

I believe my 5-6 week old chicks have gapeworm. I don't believe badly, but some of them have started to do the "yawn" thing and shake their heads like it is itching.
Does anyone have any experience with this. I am not sure what I should do. Any advice wo

 

[vtara16]

anyone?

 

[JROOSTER]

I would google it or do a search here to find out what to do. It seems odd for chicks that age to have any type of worms.

 

[elmo]

Are you raising them outdoors or indoors in a brooder? I agree with the other poster about gapeworm being unlikely in young chicks, particularly ones raised in a brooder indoors. Where could they pick up the worms?

A lot of people mistake normal chicken behavior for gapeworm. Chicks gobble a lot of food and stuff it in their crops (because they're growing so fast). They stretch their necks to rearrange the food in their crops, opening their beaks as they do so. I think that's probably what you're seeing your chicks do.