Do I need to be concerned about things like gapeworm at all?

Thank you, I believe it was their armpits I was feeing as to where it was located.

Also can I please ask I have my hen who is on oral liquid Loxicom 0.4ml and I went to syringe it into her mouth slowly and the syringe went stiff and squirted it onto the top of her beak and at her nostril entrance. She wasn’t coughing or sneezing or shaking her head at all, not showing any signs of distress. I wiped at nostril gently to remove any that was inside best I could. I monitored her for a while afterwards and she was being her normal self and has since laid down napping.
Should I be concerned at all?

Thank you 🙂

Hi Tahnee. I’m honestly not sure what that is, but it shouldn’t be an air sac as these are usually not easy to feel. However, it is true that putting excessive pressure on a bird’s body can interrupt breathing. The fact that these are symmetrical, non-painless and soft suggest that they are normal anatomy in your hen’s case.

I was doing a general check over my 2 hens feeling around gently and when I felt under their wings I could feel on either side in the same spot a soft ballon like shape is this their air sacs? I wanted to make sure I can’t do any damage to them by feeling around, and if there ever was any damage how would I know and is it life threatening.

Thank you 🙂

Hi Shane. I won’t comment on the treatment except to say that there are better treatments at your vet if things do not go well. It’s very likely that by now they all have acquired the same infection. Separating out the asymptomatic birds is still a good idea if it does not cause either of the groups extra stress, but it’s not essential as they are all very likely to be affected by now.

Hi Dee. There is probably not a lot more you can do after excluding all contact between wild birds and your flock apart from separating those who may yet not be infected and hoping no transmission has occurred. HOWEVER, your comment is also slightly concerning. It is a very timely reminder to always be aware of the more serious respiratory diseases of poultry, especially Newcastle disease, which is known for causing rapidly progressive respiratory and nervous system signs. In Australia, Newcastle disease is considered exotic and notifiable and is a disease of great importance. Please bring it up with your vet if there is any possibility. This link is for Victoria but there is a similar page for each state. https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/biosecurity/animal-diseases/poultry-diseases/newcastle-disease

Hi Carol. Probably nearly all non-commercial layers carry mycoplasma from a young age. Culling the flock would only make sense if you could be sure that the next flock could come pathogen free (typically as young commercial-breed chicks who have been fully vaccinated and not mixed with birds from other origins). Otherwise, it will be best to look at improving their husbandry and environment so that the mycoplasma does not cause excess illness. In backyard flocks, it can often coexist with healthy chickens if everything else is okay and cause few issues other than occasional upper respiratory tract signs and reduced egg production.