4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[wooky]

We've had our Omlet hens for nearly two weeks now and from the first day I noticed that our GR yawns quite frequently and is more of a head shaker than our MP. She is bright and perky although smaller and more nervy than MP. Is it possible that she arrived with gape worm? I would have hoped that they'd have been vaccinated for it but the symptoms look similar from what I've been reading.

[wooky]

I've just done some more reading on the forum and I think I may just be fretting unduly as apart from the yawning she is bright and perky. There are some good posts about this and Eglutine has mentioned before that it could just be the chook passing food down her gullet.

[Redwing]

I think some chickens are more drama-queen-ish about eating than others I have two that gape extensively for no apparent reason

 

little madams!

 

If you are at all worried you can double dose with Flubenvet just in case as it won't harm the chook (you can't eat the eggs for the treatment period if double dosing though)

[Saronne]

I think some chickens are more drama-queen-ish about eating than others I have two that gape extensively for no apparent reason

 

little madams!

 

If you are at all worried you can double dose with Flubenvet just in case as it won't harm the chook (you can eat the eggs for the treatment period if double dosing though)

 

'Can' or 'Can't' eat the eggs when double dosing?

[Ain't Nobody Here]

"can't" as far as I know!

[abwsco]

From what I've read Gape Worm is quite rare in chickens.

[Egluntyne]

Can't.

 

Strictly speaking you are supposed to seek the advice of a vet before giving the double dose.

 

Have just noticed that you have had them for two weeks.

 

The Omlet breeders take poo and bedding samples and check them for worms and their eggs. I'm sure t that if gapeworm eggs had been found they would be onto it.

 

Probably she is just rearranging the contents of her crop.

[Redwing]

I think some chickens are more drama-queen-ish about eating than others I have two that gape extensively for no apparent reason

 

little madams!

 

If you are at all worried you can double dose with Flubenvet just in case as it won't harm the chook (you can eat the eggs for the treatment period if double dosing though)

 

'Can' or 'Can't' eat the eggs when double dosing?

 

 

Very sorry, that was a typo its can't, apologies

[The Dogmother]

I have edited it in your original post Tasha

[Guest]

if a chicken has gapeworm then they will never draw a good breath and apart from struggling to breathe, they will probably have a horrible raspy/rattling/bubbly noise when they breathe and they will also shake their head and cough when they try to dislodge the worms from their trachea.

 

All chickens do that stretchy/yawny type neck movement, that's normal.

[wooky]

Thanks everyone for the replies. It was just me being a silly fretting newbie - she's stopped doing it now and is laying perfectly.

[Egluntyne]

That is good to hear.

[Guest]

good news

 

My Maud, who has just gone thru peritonitis, has now got gape. Her breathing yesterday sounded like a frog croaking, poor baby. Started her on dble flubenvet yesterday and she does seem to be perking up, fingers x'd. She's still on baytril so I don't think it can be a respiratory infection, which is why we started treating her for gape. It seems to be working, we hope!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Sorry to hear that . Hope the Flubenvet works .

[Guest]

just thought I'd give a quick update, I know it's useful for reference.

 

We thought the flubenvet was working but we've had to do 2 x 7 day courses (dble doses each time) but this morning she was really struggling to breathe and stretching her neck, shaking her head and her chest was rattling very badly.

 

Took her to the vet as an urgent case, the vet said we'd done the right thing with the flubenvet but when the worms die, they can get lodged in windpipe and cause a secondary infection.

 

She gave Maud 3 injections; ivomectin (just to make sure all the worms were dead), a baytril shot and an anti inflammatory. She has also given us a weeks worth of baytil tablets and Maud has to go back on Monday for a check up.

 

The vet said it was definitely worth trying to treat her as I said I didn't want her to suffer if we were wasting our time but she thinks she has a chance.

 

So, I'll let you know how we go.

[The Dogmother]

Glad that you have a good vet Poet, sounds like Maud will be oK.