Possible gapeworm/Flubenvet query

[Sue]

I wormed all my hens in the first week of May with Marriages pellets with Flubenvet already added. One of the hens is looking as though she may have gapeworm (but not sure at this point as she may just be hot). My question is can I worm them again so soon with Flubenvet just as a precaution or is it too soon and is it not possible for her to have gapeworm so soon after being wormed?

 

[bantiekeeper]

If she is just hot she will walk round with her beak open and sometimes hold her wings up trying to cool down.
With gapeworm I believe they stretch their neck and open the beak at the same time.Like a very exaggerated swallowing motion. Perhaps someone can confirm this.

 

[Sue]

I don't know anyone locally who is experienced enough to confirm whether it is or isn't. If it is gapeworm the symptoms are only just starting and are very vague. What I really need to know is whether I can worm them again as a precaution or whether it is too soon.

 

[foxy]

I don't know anyone locally who is experienced enough to confirm whether it is or isn't. If it is gapeworm the symptoms are only just starting and are very vague. What I really need to know is whether I can worm them again as a precaution or whether it is too soon.

No it is not too soon to worm them again, 17 gapeworm would probably need an extra course anyway.
Just keep a very careful eye on the symptoms, gapeworm isn't that common unless hens are free-ranging, and you have a high population of game birds in your area.

 

[Sue]

Thanks Foxy, they only free range a small area in my garden and there haven't been any hens here recently (if at all) and there aren't any game birds in my immediate area and certainly never in my garden. I will wait a few more days and observe her more closely over the weekend before ordering more wormer.

 

[Anonymous]

This is my first post, so hello everyone. I have just had a similar situation but was told by the company that sells the Flubenvet layers pellets online that they should only be used once every six months. I had chickens in a similar condition and they advised worming them but said that if they were not stretching their necks it was probably the hot weather. If we have a cool day see if they still keep opening their mouths.

 

[Chuck]

I'd ask the makers of Flubenvet. If you ask Marriages, they will only give you their interpretation.

Gapeworm in pheasants (never seen it in chickens) involves stretching of the neck and a shake of the head and a 'kecking' noise as if it's trying to shake out the worm. Can't explain it any better but it is also known as the kecks.