336 Farm Poultry 



times known as the "red worm." It is stated that 

 the male is always attached to the female, the for- 

 mer being the smaller of the two. These worms 

 are found in the windpipe or trachea of the chickens, 

 where they are attached to the membraneous 

 lining of this air-passage. They are nourished by 

 sucking the blood of the fowl and cause consider- 

 able irritation and inflammation, particularly if 

 the chickens are weak. The stronger and more 

 robust undoubtedly are considerably inconve- 

 nienced, 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 dislodged 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 

 and away from infected ground. As the weak 



