What a gasping chicken is trying to tell you

There is one particularly nasty parasite that can cause symptoms which are often confused with a respiratory infection.

Gapeworms attach to the wall of the trachea (windpipe). This irritation and their thread-like shape causes the bird to cough and gasp with its neck outstretched, its mouth gaping open.

If you look closely, you might even see the small reddish worms at the very back of the throat in the windpipe.

The clue that it’s gapeworm is that other respiratory symptoms – runny eyes and nose, chesty gurgling – will not be present, and it’s more common in birds under one year old.

Not all worming products will kill gapeworm. Products containing levamisole (Aviverm for large birds) or flubendazole (Flubenol) used at the correct dose should work. You can buy these products on Trade Me, from poultry supply stores, and in some vet clinics.

Treat the entire flock at the same time whether or not they have symptoms. Both products are added to water and are said to be palatable, but if birds are reluctant to drink, add a little cranberry juice to disguise the flavour.

Flubenol: also kills roundworms and tapeworms; treatment is over seven days; no withholding period on eggs or meat.

Aviverm: also kills roundworms, cecal worms, and hair worms; treatment is for one day; 7-day withholding period after dose for eggs and meat.