No quacking

[casportpony]

Quote: A vet probably could. If I suspected gapes I would de-worm with Safeguard, and I'd go ahead and also worm for capillary worms, which means five days at 0.23ml per pound, but that's just me.

-Kathy

 

[Amykins]

A veterinarian will be able to give you the proper dosage, medication, and length of time it should be administered. Not all dewormers will treat all species of parasite, just like not all antibiotics will be potent against all bacterial strains. If you do think it's gapeworm, I really think you need to get a professional opinion. I hope your baby gets better! <3

 

[needlessjunk]

A veterinarian will be able to give you the proper dosage, medication, and length of time it should be administered. Not all dewormers will treat all species of parasite, just like not all antibiotics will be potent against all bacterial strains. If you do think it's gapeworm, I really think you need to get a professional opinion. I hope your baby gets better! <3

I guess the big thing is that I don't know what to be looking out for. She is acting totally normal and is the same that she has been since we got her in Jan sans talking. She never quacked but did chatter and talk a bit but she has never been loud. She hasn't lost weight and there has been no drop in egg production. If anything she is finally getting a break from our Drake. She still head bobs but doesn't chatter while doing it. She exhales and it looks like she is trying to talk but not much comes out. I just can't figure if she just doesn't want to or if she is unable. Today she did finally talk a bit so I'm almost wondering if she just doesn't want to get loud.

 

[casportpony]

A trip to the vet is always a good idea, but it can be expensive - $45-$65 to for office visit/exam, $15-$35 for fecal float, $15-$35 for gram stain. If you can't take her to a vet, it's probably a good idea to get a baseline weigh on her and then start weighing her once a week. Best to weigh in the am before they've had food and water.

As for wormers, I'll post some info on the various worms and how to treat them.

-Kathy

 

[Amykins]

There's no need to worm if she doesn't have gapeworm in the first place. Based on what's written here, I don't feel comfortable saying if it is or it isn't. Some things simply require an up-close examination by an actual professional. Part of responsible ownership is being able to afford to care for that animal, in any circumstance. That includes vet visits.

 

[needlessjunk]

Well I thought I would let y'all know. She it back to chatting again. All day yesterday my drake was chasing the alpha duck and I wonder if the pecking order had anything to do with her not talking much. She is still quiet but now does her clucking to Mr. Drake again. So it seems she can quack/talk but was choosing not to.

 

[DemonicFowl]

Well I thought I would let y'all know.  She it back to chatting again.  All day yesterday my drake was chasing the alpha duck and I wonder if the pecking order had anything to do with her not talking much.  She is still quiet but now does her clucking to Mr. Drake again.  So it seems she can quack/talk but was choosing not to.

Glad to hear she's ok! Lol Mr. Drake...

 

[needlessjunk]

When I went to let them out this morning everyone was straight up quacking up a storm including Rocky (cayuga). So it seems that there was nothing to worry about. I will still keep on eye on her, of course.

 

[casportpony]

When I went to let them out this morning everyone was straight up quacking up a storm including Rocky (cayuga). So it seems that there was nothing to worry about. I will still keep on eye on her, of course.

Glad to hear she's okay. Still probably a good idea to get a baseline weight on her. You and everyone else here should also read up on worms that waterfowl get and decide if you want to worm. Many experienced chicken people worm several times a year with broad spectrum wormers like 10% fenbendazole (Safeguard) or 13.6% albendazole (Valbazen). Of course working with a vet to come up with a worming program would be ideal, but most people do not due to the cost.

These are some of the parasites you should read up on:

Internal parasites (endoparasites, worms, helminths)

Gastrointestinal roundworms (nematodes)

• Acuaria spp ~ Dispharynx ~ Synhimanthus spp. $. Gizzard worms. Gizzard, esophagus and proventriculus. Can be a problem in endemic regions, mainly in birds kept outdoors.
• Ascaridia spp. $$$. Chicken roundworms. Small intestine. A serious problem worldwide, also in confined operations.
• Capillaria spp. $$. Hairworms. Crop, esophagus, small intestine, large intestine.
• Heterakis spp. $$$$. Cecal worms. Cecum. Probably the most threatening worms in all kind of poultry operations worldwide.
• Oxyspirura spp. $. Fowl eyeworms. Eyes. Usually a secondary problem in individual birds kept outdoors.
• Strongyloides spp. $$. Threadworms, pinworms. Small intestine. Can be a serious problem worldwide.
• Subulura spp. $. Cecum and small intestine. A secondary problem in birds kept outdoors worldwide.
• Syngamus trachea. $$. Gapeworms. Trachea, bronchi. A serious problem in birds kept outdoors in endemic regions.
• Tetrameres spp. $. Proventriculus and esophagus. Can be a problem in endemic regions, mainly in outdoor opertaions.

Tapeworms (cestodes)

• Amoebotaenia cuneata = sphenoides. $. Small intestine. Usually a secondary issue in most poultry operations
• Choanotaenia infundibulum. $. Small intestine. Usually not a major issue in modern poultry operations.
• Davainea proglottina. $. Minute tapeworms. Small intestine. Can be a problem in birds kept outdoors in endemic regions.
• Raillietina spp. $$. Small intestine. The most frequent tapeworm in poultry, however normally not a major problem.

Flukes (trematodes, flatworms)

• Prosthogonimus spp. $. Oviduct flukes. Oviduct, bursa of Fabricius. Can be a serious threat for birds kept outdoors in endemic regions.

Source: http://parasitipedia.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2655&Itemid=2933

-Kathy

 

[needlessjunk]

Glad to hear she's okay. Still probably a good idea to get a baseline weight on her. You and everyone else here should also read up on worms that waterfowl get and decide if you want to worm. Many experienced chicken people worm several times a year with broad spectrum wormers like 10% fenbendazole (Safeguard) or 13.6% albendazole (Valbazen). Of course working with a vet to come up with a worming program would be ideal, but most people do not due to the cost. 

• Gapeworms 
• Gizzard worms
• Round worms
• Cecal worms
• Capillary worms
• Tapeworms
• Flukes

-Kathy

I'll read up on those and decide from there. Thank you for the info. I'll also get a baseline weight on all my ducks.