Adults live in the cecum of birds. Eggs pass in the feces and the L2 develops in the egg. Like other ascarids, the L2 is the infective larva. The infective egg can survive for years. If the egg is eaten by a suitable bird the egg hatches and the L2 molts 3 times as it travels to the cecum and becomes an adult. The eggs may also be eaten by an earthworm. In that case, the L2 hatches and burrows into the tissues of the earthworm, but does not develop further. The earthworm is a partenic host. When eaten by a bird, the L2s in the earthworm are freed and continue their development.
A protozoan parasite of birds, Histomonas meleagridis uses Heterakis to aid its transmission. The protozoan is ingested by the adult nematode while in the cecum. The prootzoan then invades the ovary of the nematode and is incorporated into the eggs and infects the digestive system of the developing larva. Eventually, when the larva is eaten by another bird, the protozoan infection is transmitted as well.