I have been asked to give a friend of Coopslave’s some assistance with ascertaining what may be wrong with some chickens that this person purchased. It is believed that she purchased ill birds. New to keeping chickens, this is awful. I do not know any of the symptoms yet, and I am not an expert, but Coopslave mentioned I had dealing with gapeworm, and yes I have. Once. About 2 years ago, with my buff Orpington rooster, who at that time was 20 weeks old. I find it imperative to share my knowledge, I am compelled and I just cannot stop. If I did not share things I have learned, I consider that to be hoarding, knowledge hoarding, and a hoarder I am not.
So as this request got me to thinking about a health issue that I had with one of my birds, I thought I would bring the topic back to life, which I had began so long ago. I will firstly recap the gathered information in that thread, my compilation of information, it follows below in quote boxes and then the actual thread will be linked below. I hope that, as we come into the wintertime, that if others see these particular symptoms of gapeworm, that this thread may help others out. Have a most wonderful day, CynthiaM.
Following in quotes is the recap of the entire thread's information:
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So as this request got me to thinking about a health issue that I had with one of my birds, I thought I would bring the topic back to life, which I had began so long ago. I will firstly recap the gathered information in that thread, my compilation of information, it follows below in quote boxes and then the actual thread will be linked below. I hope that, as we come into the wintertime, that if others see these particular symptoms of gapeworm, that this thread may help others out. Have a most wonderful day, CynthiaM.
Following in quotes is the recap of the entire thread's information:
This is the actual thread that discusses gapeworm, tapeworm, round worm and a whack of other things related to illness in the flock.
The gapeworm treatment using panacur (fenbendazole 5 ml per four litres for three days) was 100% effective for the treatment of gapeworm.
Many will not have the time or wish to review all the posts regarding my experience with this worm, so I will recap, very briefly, as briefly as I can, my time with it.
About three weeks ago (this is very vague), I noticed one of the young buff orpington cockerels (20 weeks old now) displaying a gurgling sound. This was discernable as I walked into the coop, so picture quite a loud sound. I left him alone and kept watch on that. When I moved him and his comrades of the same breed and age into a new coop to be alone for a time before selection of who to keep in the new breeding pool, I noticed something else. It would appear that he had a bit of a time breathing and stretched his head out, opened his mouth slightly and pulled in, what I presume to be air. Which it was, of course. This young fellow was the only one displaying this very noticeable gurgling sound. Considering that he was the only one in all my yards, which is comprised of about 50 birds, I thought that very odd, so really did not suspect a respiratory illness. I had recalled reading something about a worm the chickens can get in the throat, called gapeworm and did some research. After this research, considered that since we have so many worms, snails, grasshoppers, blue bottle flies (and a mountain of others that are hosts to this gapeworm thingy), there may be a likelihood he may have gapeworm. Now I was on to get medication for that thing, and did more research, from our forum here and on the internet. I procured a medication that is fenbendazole, which goes under many names, but I used the brand name panacur. This was given to all my birds for three days, all eggs have been appropriately discarded during that time period and for a bit more....
The day after the last dose of medication, I had picked up the big dude, now named Jackson, and listened to his breath. I could hear some raspiness, but not the gurgling that was so noticeable.
Yesterday, up came Jackson to my lap and he sat with me for a few minutes. I listened and I listened and I listened and then listened some more. I am sure he was in shock with my face near his. Perfectly clear, sweet -- the sound of a bird breathing. There was no raspiness, no gurgling. Gone....period. Gone from a gurgling sound that could be heard from many feet away, to nothing.
Gapeworm, oh what a lovely thing. 100% positive that this bird was affected with the worm in his trachea and 100% positive that fenbendazole worked to rid the worm. I think that it took a few days after treatment for all the worms to be dislodged from the trachea, (the worms grab on with their "mouth" parts and stay there is my understanding) and be gone, leaving a clear airway.
Gapeworm. Watch out. I would suggest that if anyone is hearing a gurgly sound and gasping for air, that don't reach first for a big gun, like an antibiotic, but to consider that there may be that gapeworm cluster in the throat. Don't take this as gospel, but I would seriously now always consider this firstly, before I reached for an antibiotic.
Just an experience from an inexperienced girl. I never even knew this worm was a clear and present danger, until I had "heard" about it, studied about it, and then tackled it.
Remember that word.
Gapeworm.
And have a most wonderful day, CynthiaM.
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