CHAPTER XLIII 



GAPES 



GAPES is a very common and troublesome disease 

 amongst both chicks and fowls. It is a parasitic dis- 

 ease, and has the appearance of one worm, reddish 

 in color, but upon a closer examination it will be 

 found to be two worms, male and female, linked 

 together. These worms fasten to the lining of the 

 windpipe, and in that position suck the blood from 

 the victim. It seems to be more dangerous to chicks 

 from one to six weeks old. Death generally results 

 from loss of blood and debility, or a large number of 

 worms may cause suffocation. 



The disease spreads easily, because there are sev- 

 eral thousand eggs in the female worm, which are 

 not laid but which escape by the bursting of the 

 female's body. At times these develop into worms 

 in the bird's windpipe, but are more often coughed 

 up and thus picked up by other birds through the 

 food, water, or the ground. 



The presence of gapes is noted by frequent gaping, 

 coughing, sneezing and whistling, and weakening, 

 dumpish condition of the chick or fowl. Badly 

 affected birds cough as though suffocating, shake 

 their heads frequently, and often stand with wings 

 drooping, eyes closed, and mouth open. 



196 



