314 ' Farm Poultry 



of "branched worm." On account of its color it is 

 also sometimes known as the "red worm." It is 

 stated that the male is always attached to the 

 female, the former being the smaller of the two. 

 These worms are found in the windpipe or trachea 

 of the chickens, where they are attached to the 

 membranous lining of this air -passage. They 

 are nourished by sucking the blood of the fowl 

 and cause considerable irritation and inflamma- 

 tion, particularly if the chickens are weak. The 

 stronger and more robust undoubtedly are con- 

 siderably inconvenienced, but the attacks are not 

 severe enough to prevent them from making 

 a fairly good growth. It is stated, on good 

 authority, that as many as thirty or forty of 

 these worms have been found in a single chicken. 



Dr. H. D. Walker, Newburgh, N. Y., states that 

 the earthworm is the natural host of this pest. 

 Chickens, robins and other birds have become 

 infested with the gape worm by feeding them 

 infested earthworms. Comparatively few gape 

 worms are sufficient to destroy the life of weak 

 young chickens. Many more, however, would 

 not necessarily destroy a vigorous bird, either 

 young or adult. These worms are frequently dis- 

 lodged by coughing or sneezing. When they are 

 thrown out in this manner other fowls may eat 

 them and in turn become infected. 



Remedies. Keep little chickens in a dry place 



