Tell me about gapeworm please!

[Nebraskagirl]

My Khaki Campbell drake has been shaking his head and occasionally making a weird "cough" sound. The weird sound has been going on for a couple of months. The other duck shows no signs at all and they together all the time. I do free range them during the day and they eat whatever they can find besides the flock feed I give them. Does this sound like gape? He is not "gasping" for air and is not limping and appears healthy. Can gape kill? If so, how long? How do I treat?

 

[Nebraskagirl]

Gee this forum is helpful..........never mind

 

[Nebraskagirl]

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[Amiga]

Gee this forum is helpful..........never mind

Frustrating, isn't it, when our posts seem to get lost?

We have not had to deal with gapeworm, but I can tell you what I know from reading the forum, and from Storey's Guide.

It gets progressively worse if untreated. Here is a thread discussing treatment.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/702562/safeguard-fenbendazole-for-gapeworm

Another possibility is that your drake's "coughing" is some kind of communication. Is he your only drake? Would it be possible for you to make a video so we can hear it?

Sometimes, too, something can get caught in a duck's throat. Or, they can get respiratory infections. In the latter case, they might need antibiotics instead of antihelminthics. Take a look at this thread.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/285714/coughing-duck-is-it-serious

Is his "crop" area on the front of his chest swollen at all? Can you pick him up and hold him for a few minutes, listening to his breathing?

How is he otherwise?