Gapeworm? Respiratory infection?

[Rhody84]

I noticed this morning that my 11/12 week old girl kept extending her neck and opening her mouth. She did it probably a dozen times in a row. I started googling and figured it could be a crop thing. Then I tried to go get it on video but she wasn’t doing it. I watched the video a bit later and noticed a different one do it. Yes, I’m a first time chicken owner! And I’ve only had them about a month. I would appreciate thoughts/advice, please!

Video:

 

[Eggcessive]

That does look like she is adjusting her crop. Can you check her crop now and first thing in the morning to see if her crop is empty, full, hard, doughy, or soft/puffy? Do you provide granite poultry grit free choice to help their gizzards grind up grasses and food other than chicken feed? Make sure that she has access to water at all hours.

Gapeworm is very rare. Chickens can gape also with extreme heat or with a respiratory infection. Gapeworm is treated with SafeGuard Liquid Goat Wormer (fenbendazole) given orally 1/4 ml per pound of weight for 5 straight days.

 

[Rhody84]

That does look like she is adjusting her crop. Can you check her crop now and first thing in the morning to see if her crop is empty, full, hard, doughy, or soft/puffy? Do you provide granite poultry grit free choice to help their gizzards grind up grasses and food other than chicken feed? Make sure that she has access to water at all hours.

Gapeworm is very rare. Chickens can gape also with extreme heat or with a respiratory infection. Gapeworm is treated with SafeGuard Liquid Goat Wormer (fenbendazole) given orally 1/4 ml per pound of weight for 5 straight days.

I can try to check the crops when I get home - I guess when I saw a second chicken doing it it made me question if it’s the crop since for 2 to have the issue at the same time seemed a little odd to me. But I have given them some watermelon and have not given grit. I’ll definitely start providing grit. If the crop seems empty, is treating for the worms the next step? What is treatment for respiratory infection?

 

[Rhody84]

That does look like she is adjusting her crop. Can you check her crop now and first thing in the morning to see if her crop is empty, full, hard, doughy, or soft/puffy? Do you provide granite poultry grit free choice to help their gizzards grind up grasses and food other than chicken feed? Make sure that she has access to water at all hours.

Gapeworm is very rare. Chickens can gape also with extreme heat or with a respiratory infection. Gapeworm is treated with SafeGuard Liquid Goat Wormer (fenbendazole) given orally 1/4 ml per pound of weight for 5 straight days.

@Eggcessive What do you recommend if her crop is full? Do I try to empty? Or can I give her something to help it empty?

 

[Rhody84]

@Eggcessive

So I didn’t pick her up and feel it last night because she was acting fine and not doing the adjusting anymore and was drinking a lot and I gave chick grit which they all went nuts for.

This morning she’s also acting fine and drinking a lot (I also added the ACV to the water this morning figuring it can’t hurt). I do see a visible lump in her chest where I think the crop would be. It’s the diameter of a golf ball, doesn’t protrude quite that much from what I see. Do I just give her time? I don’t really pick them up because it freaks them out, but I can try to and try to massage it today if I need