Just another 'GAPEWORM?' thread....

[casportpony]

This can be used to dose chickens, but I'm not sure of the dosage. There's no "official" chicken-specific dewormer.

I am 100% sure of the dose. It's 10% fenbendazole, which is the same as our Safeguard for goats.

This is what this book says about treating gapeworms:

 

[SulkyBantam]

Thank you! I'll keep a eye and keep you updated.

Also thanks for the promp replys. Any other advice?

 

[humblehillsfarm]

I am 100% sure of the dose.

I meant I wasn't sure of the amount recommended per weight of the chicken. (I also wasn't sure of how you were interpreting my comment).

 

[casportpony]

Thank you! I'll keep a eye and keep you updated.

Also thanks for the promp replys. Any other advice?

Do you have a food scale? I suggest getting a baseline weight, then start to weigh every few days to monitor for weight loss. If she is still growing, monitor for lack of weight gain.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

I am 100% sure of the dose. It's 10% fenbendazole, which is the same as our Safeguard for goats.

Oops. I saw you had written the dosage below the original comment. I'll see myself out.

 

[casportpony]

I meant I wasn't sure of the amount recommended per weight of the chicken. (I also wasn't sure of how you were interpreting my comment).

No worries, I wasn't interpreting it in a bad way, just wanted the OP to know that I had looked up the dose and calculated it based on the product.

 

[casportpony]

Oops. I saw you had written the dosage below the original comment. I'll see myself out.

No need to hide!

 

[SulkyBantam]

I'll see myself out.

PLEASE dont

 

[SulkyBantam]

So.... she's still at it and now shaking her head. Advice please, one other hen is shaking head too. However, she's breathing fine and laying very well.

 

[aart]

Not sure I'd jump right to gapeworm, it's pretty rare and mostly in warmer climates.
Got video of the head shaking?
First thing I'd do is look in her ears.

Then check for bugs
My Bug Check notes:
Have you checked them over real well for mites and/or lice?

Google images of lice/mites and their eggs before the inspection so you'll know what you're looking for.

Part the feathers right down to the skin around vent, head/neck and under wings.

Best done well after dark with a strong flashlight/headlight, easier to 'catch' bird and also to check for the mites that live in structure and only come out at night to feed off roosting birds.

Wipe a white paper towel along the underside of roost to look for red smears(smashed well fed mites).

Good post about mite ID by Lady McCamley:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-chicken-has-mites-now-what.1273674/page-2#post-20483008


Then...... isolate bird in a wire cage within the coop for a day or two....so you can closely monitor their intake of food and water, crop function(checking at night and in morning before providing more feed), and their poops. Feel their abdomen, from below vent to between legs, for squishy or hard swelling. Check for external parasites or any other abnormalities.

Best to put crate right in coop or run so bird is still 'with' the flock.
I like to use a fold-able wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller mesh(1x2) on bottom of crate under tray.
Then you can put tray underneath crate to better observe droppings without it being stepped in. If smaller mesh is carefully installed, tray can still be used inside crate.