chicken breathing through her mouth — yawning

[poonam]

Hi folks! i'm new to the backyard chickens forum.

I have a chicken who occasionally breaks into a long series of what looks like yawns, closes her eyes while she's at it. I don't think it's just that she's sleepy, it looks more like she's gently breathing through her mouth. She has no issues with eating or drinking water, though it seems like she's drinking a really large amount of water, and her poop is watery. The main faecal matter is not runny, there's just a lot of water in her poop. She seems pretty healthy overall, with the exception of her bouts of mouth breathing and napping. she seems a little less perky than our other healthy chickens. There is a little one in the coop with her as well, and she seems to be doing a similar thing.

Any ideas on what it might be?

Thank you!

Poonam

 

[Desert Rooster]

Kind of sounds like Gapeworm to me

And Hello

from Hesperia,CA and

 

[Attack Chicken]

from Indiana!!!!!

 

[dawg53]

Welcome to BYC. Most likely needs worming.

 

[MSDeb]

Welcome to BYC, glad you decided to join us. Good luck with your birds.

 

[poonam]

thanks folks! do you think it's likely that she has gapeworm even though her appetite is fine? have y'all tried any natural treatments (garlic, DE, olive oil) that has worked? I'm also feeling like the area around her eyes seem a tad swollen but i may be paranoid.

 

[4-H chicken mom]

and

from Ohio. So glad you joined. Sorry to hear about hen. You should post her problem the Emergencies/Diseases section on the index page. You will probably get more help there.