Gape Worms

Other Names

• gapes
• cough


Organism or Mechanism

Syngamus trachea pathogenic nematode roundworm carried by earthworms, beetles, sowbugs, grasshoppers, and earwigs


Preventative Measures

• Isolate birds from infected intermediate hosts, especially the earthworm.


Management Treatments

• Lime the infected ground.
• White wash roosts and walls.
• Plow up and plant rye in yards.

Physical Treatments

• Remove worms with oiled feather (sweet oil with a little clove oil) then add 3 drams of salicylate of soda/ quart of drinking water.
• Use a feather dipped in mixture of 4 drops eucalyptus oil to 1/2 pint castor oil to remove worms.


Nutritional Treatments


Herbal Treatments


Homeopathic Treatments

• China 3X in drinking water.
• Dulcamara and Drosera in alternation with Sulphur to complete the cure.
• Also Ignatia, Lachesis, or China