chickens panting

[sean_wonder]

my chickens pant when we hold them, even when it’s not at all hot or inside. we don’t hold them down or force them anywhere, and they’ve been held daily since they were a day old. currently i have a chicken on my chest (no hands, she’s free to roam) looking as though panting with no sound. she’s laying down and isn’t spread out as though she’s hot, and if i was stressing her out i’m sure she’d run away. so why are they panting?

 

[sean_wonder]

bump

 

[aart]

It may not feel too hot to you, but she may feel too warm.

 

[sean_wonder]

It may not feel too hot to you, but she may feel too warm.

but sometimes it’s warmer outside than it is inside and they still pant, which is why it’s confusing.

 

[aart]

but sometimes it’s warmer outside than it is inside and they still pant, which is why it’s confusing.

Then maybe it's stress.<shrugs>
Heat and/or stress a bird feels is pretty much impossible to measure.

 

[aldarita]

yep, panting is not only a sign of being hot, it is also a sign of stress

 

[sourland]

Stress