Is something wrong with my chicken? Weird mouth thing - VIDEO included

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guesswhatchickenbutt

guesswhatchickenbutt

Songster
10 Years
Mar 5, 2009
368
25
131
Central FL
I have three chickens that were hatched in March - so they're about 3 months old now - and all appear to be females. They've all seemed healthy to me. About a week or so ago I noticed the Barred Rock doing this weird open mouth thing. It doesn't appear that she's yawning or panting from the heat because I've seen them all do both and this isn't it.

It reminds me of when my dog has a stick caught in its back teeth... it looks uncomfortable and sorta stretches out its mouth.

I managed to get some video of it this morning. Keep an eye on the Barred Rock (easy to spot since the other two are a BO and an EE).

Is this normal chicken behavior or is something wrong?

(Mods - I didn't know if this should be in the chicken behaviors thread or this thread so I took a guess. Thx)

Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJNm9LZoKFI


Thoughts? I really really really hope she's okay...

and FYI - they are in a mobile chicken-hoop run in the day and have access to grass, etc... not sure if that's relevant or not?
 
It looks like she just swallowed something the wrong way and was trying to dislodge it. Is she still doing it?
 
Your chickens look healthy and happy. I have seen my birds do this and it may just be a grass blade that is kinda working its way through.

There is a worm, gapeworm that lives in the crop. You should be able to open up the beak and look down there and see if that is the problem... I think it's not very common and there may be other symptoms such as wheezing, etc. that accompany that ...I think she's fine
smile.png
 
I agree... it looks like she's trying to swallow. How long has she been doing it? It doesn't appear that she's choking, so at least that's good... but that motion sure looks like swallowing to me...
 
She's done it on and off for a couple of weeks. Granted I don't spend hours staring at them, but I do spend a little time each morning and afternoon sitting next to the run. I haven't noticed her doing it in about a week and then today she was doing it for about 10 min's straight. That's when I ran in and grabbed the phone to do a quick video.

I just ran out with a nice full bowl of grit for them just incase it'd help. I don't give them a ton of grit since they have access to grass/dirt in the yard all day, so I thought a bowl of it couldn't hurt.

I feel pretty relieved that you think she seems healthy.

I've become so attached to my girls...
 
I am mixing grit in my crumbles because the soil on this area is mostly clay and loam. The chickens have lots of grass to eat and I'm afraid they could have trouble digesting it without the added grit.
 
I guess I should be more vigilant about the grit then? just in case? We have very sandy soil here in Central Florida so I assumed they got enough from the soil.... I know adding grit can't hurt, so I'll try that as the first step and see if it clears up.
 
some of mine do this too. I have learned to 'ignore' it. IT's funny watching them though. I've done the grit thing and it doesn't change. It think they are sjust moving things around or maybe they are just really tired
smile.png
 
I was freaking out about all day yesterday...

Turns out they just gorged themselves in thier chicken tractor and I had one two many beers on canada day...

No issues all evening when they were in thier tractor last night.
 
Thank you VERY much for sharing this and grabbing the video footage! My 3 mo old Lt. Brahma is doing the same thing and I noticed my BR was doing it the other day. I thought it was a yawn, but the LB kept doing it. I will just rest assured that it is natural and instead of grit in a bowl I will sprinkle it in their food.

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