Should I treat for gape worm?

[PaintedFeathers]

I have noticed some of my chickens going the open mouthed gaping yawn thing associated with gape worm. I have seen them do it when they are stressed, but now they are doing it while they are just out in the coop chilling. What do I check for when I look in their throats? I didn't see anything when I checked in my pullet's throat. How do you treat it? I have 7 chickens outside right now, they are between 6 weeks and 9 months.

 

[Judy]

Swab the throat deeply with a Q tip. If they have gape worms you will find them on the Q tip, very thin, long (1" or so) red worms. Gapeworm is serious but unusual.

 

[casportpony]

Swab the throat deeply with a Q tip. If they have gape worms you will find them on the Q tip, very thin, long (1" or so) red worms. Gapeworm is serious but unusual.

Do you mean swab the trachea or the esophagus, because I don't think a q-tip will fit down into the trachea of most birds.

 

[dawg53]

I have noticed some of my chickens going the open mouthed gaping yawn thing associated with gape worm. I have seen them do it when they are stressed, but now they are doing it while they are just out in the coop chilling. What do I check for when I look in their throats? I didn't see anything when I checked in my pullet's throat. How do you treat it? I have 7 chickens outside right now, they are between 6 weeks and 9 months.

Are they eating and drinking? If so, it's not gapeworm. They would be too busy trying to breathe, not eating and drinking. Also they would be continually shaking their heads....they would be gasping and grunting. Yawning could be crop adjustments, or just plain yawning. Otherwise it could be the onset of a respiratory problem or some type of environmental issue, birds will open their mouths if it gets warm/hot. Gapes are rare in chickens.

 

[PaintedFeathers]

Are they eating and drinking? If so, it's not gapeworm. They would be too busy trying to breathe, not eating and drinking. Also they would be continually shaking their heads....they would be gasping and grunting. Yawning could be crop adjustments, or just plain yawning. Otherwise it could be the onset of a respiratory problem or some type of environmental issue, birds will open their mouths if it gets warm/hot. Gapes are rare in chickens.

okay then, well mother nature has been pretty bi-polar here so i'm hoping it's just that. They are eating and drinking fine. Probably just being paranoid.

 

[casportpony]

If you haven't already, now might be a good time to treat them for mites/lice and worms.

 

[PaintedFeathers]

I treat them regularly for mites/lice/fleas with a flea and tick shampoo, and check them weekly. I am going to wait until they are older to worm them, they are still babies. They seem better today.

 

[casportpony]

They're never too young to worm if they've been on the ground, IMHO.

 

[chickenman7000]

look for duramycin