Chickens Can Exhibit Flatulence

[HenOnAJuneBug]

I've heard some of my chickens toot.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

Ssssuuuurrrreee blame it on the birds.

Like the saying - He who smelt it, dealt it.

 

[centrarchid]

Smeller is the feller.

 

[andreanar]

MY girls do NOT fart!

 

[TwoCrows]

I am finding this disappointing.

Yes, birds pass gas just as we do. Gas develops in the intestinal tract for a variety of reasons from standard digestion, the feed itself may not be digesting well, feed changes, indigestion, intestinal yeast or bacterial infections, worms or Coccidiosis, added probiotics, etc... Get down to the bottom of this gas, it may signify something you need to fix. It may just be simple digestion.

 

[centrarchid]

Yes, birds pass gas just as we do. Gas develops in the intestinal tract for a variety of reasons from standard digestion, the feed itself may not be digesting well, feed changes, indigestion, intestinal yeast or bacterial infections, worms or Coccidiosis, added probiotics, etc... Get down to the bottom of this gas, it may signify something you need to fix. It may just be simple digestion.

Even fish fart. It is the biological significance that is of interest. All animals with bacteria in gut produce volatile compounds that must come. Some make benefits from it. Some are put at risk. Why release it in short larger volumes rather than continuously? Some really like to kill exploring the envelop.

 

[MissChick@dee]

Same can be said for foxes, raccoons, opossums, snakes, hawks, dogs, and pretty much everything except mice. Think real hard about when that is realized and consider where that is along the spectrum of poultry keeping.

Now you’re just being silly. It’s when/how owls hunt. The simplest of structures would keep your chickens safe from owls at night. That just cannot be said for the other predators you listed.

 

[TwoCrows]

Even fish fart. It is the biological significance that is of interest. All animals with bacteria in gut produce volatile compounds that must come. Some make benefits from it. Some are put at risk. Why release it in short larger volumes rather than continuously? Some really like to kill exploring the envelop.

This subject just doesn't lend itself to in depth learning, at least to the point of admitting you do research on it. Who wants to admit they know everything there is to know about farting!

But seriously, many people have asked this question through out BYC's years, they honestly don't know or haven't given it much thought.

Yes folks, chickens fart.

 

[TwoCrows]

And as far as why it flows in short bursts rather than continuously, in humans gas is produced in the small intestines and it tends to be released in slow increments as it develops, then traveling through the large intestine. Imagine the yeast growing when preparing bread for rising. As the yeasts grow and feed, the cells fill with carbon dioxide. As sugars are metabolized and the cells expand, they release this gas. It doesn't happen all at once but over the time it takes for the cells to grow and expand. Something like this.

 

[centrarchid]

Farting is serious business. Not done properly can and does result in death. Colic.

Now you’re just being silly. It’s when/how owls hunt. The simplest of structures would keep your chickens safe from owls at night. That just cannot be said for the other predators you listed.

Commercial producers feeding the masses do not loose birds to predators I mentioned. Remember the spectrum, not just backyards you think are worthy of considering as properly managed.