Chickens yawning?

[TheYLWFlock]

Occasionaly I see some of my 5 and 7 week old chicks stretching their neck out and opening their mouths really wide then closing them. Kind of like yawning? They are all healthy and eating and drinking just fine, they always have access to feed and water, but they’ve been doing this every once in a while for a long time, so I guess I’m just wondering if this is just a chicken behavior thing?

Thanks!

 

[New2chicluv]

I think so mine do it too and are 7 weeks. I was worried the first time I saw it but, they all seem healthy.

 

[TheYLWFlock]

Yeah they are all healthy and happy, I read that they do it to rearrange the food in their crops?

 

[New2chicluv]

Didnt know that, thank you. I started adding grit when I saw it, figured better safe than sorry. I thought they were trying to talk lol and kept thinking spit it out

 

[aart]

I read that they do it to rearrange the food in their crops?

Yes, adjusting the crop.

Grit won't change this behavior (grit works in the gizzard, not the crop),
but good to have the proper sized grit available to chicks to help develop a good gizzard, and a necessity if they are eating anything other than chick crumble.
http://www.jupefeeds-sa.com/documents/GraniteGrit.pdf.

 

[TheYLWFlock]

Yes I provide grit for them! Thank you for the clarification!