Dry heaving? Something stuck in crop?

[StardustChicken]

While letting my chickens free range around 4pm I noticed a strange behavior in my 5 month old (6 months next week) Polish. She was doing this strange dry heave/jerky movement while eating.

I been raising chickens for nearly a year and have never encountered this before. Before this the flock was on a blueberry frenzy. I really can't hold them and let them tear the berry to shreds anymore, the chooks just end up swallowing them whole. Is it possible a berry just got stuck or a parasite or maybe did she get a hold of something toxic? Or is this just a normal behavior I had no idea about??

Tonight I have her inside a dog kennel in the bathroom. A little while ago I witnessed her do 2 small jerks while not eating at all. She is my only adult hen that's not laying, if that's even remotely useful information.

 

[MysteryChicken]

While letting my chickens free range around 4pm I noticed a strange behavior in my 5 month old (6 months next week) Polish. She was doing this strange dry heave/jerky movement while eating.

I been raising chickens for nearly a year and have never encountered this before. Before this the flock was on a blueberry frenzy. I really can't hold them and let them tear the berry to shreds anymore, the chooks just end up swallowing them whole. Is it possible a berry just got stuck or a parasite or maybe did she get a hold of something toxic? Or is this just a normal behavior I had no idea about??

Tonight I have her inside a dog kennel in the bathroom. A little while ago I witnessed her do 2 small jerks while not eating at all. She is my only adult hen that's not laying, if that's even remotely useful information.

It looks like she's adjusting her crop. My birds do it once in awhile. I wouldn't be concerned unless her crop isn't emptying over night.

 

[CluckerFamily]

I agree, it looks like she is adjusting her crop.

 

[Birdie mom]

That's normal, mine do it all the time.

 

[StardustChicken]

That's normal, mine do it all the time.

Ah okay, glad my paranoia is being immediately squashed!

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

While letting my chickens free range around 4pm I noticed a strange behavior in my 5 month old (6 months next week) Polish. She was doing this strange dry heave/jerky movement while eating.

I been raising chickens for nearly a year and have never encountered this before. Before this the flock was on a blueberry frenzy. I really can't hold them and let them tear the berry to shreds anymore, the chooks just end up swallowing them whole. Is it possible a berry just got stuck or a parasite or maybe did she get a hold of something toxic? Or is this just a normal behavior I had no idea about??

Tonight I have her inside a dog kennel in the bathroom. A little while ago I witnessed her do 2 small jerks while not eating at all. She is my only adult hen that's not laying, if that's even remotely useful information.

Wow! I never knew other people's chickens did that! Whenever one of my chickens do that while eating, it's because they've ate their pellets too fast and they are chocking. When I see them doing this, I will catch them and massage their throat. I will either try to massage the grain down or up their throat. If up, I'll try to get the grain out. Then I'll try to get them to drink some water, and keep them away from their grain until they seem to be doing ok. I do have a hen currently that does that and I've been trying to figure out why. Last time I saw her doing that, I messaged her crop for a little while and she seemed fine afterwards. Back to when a chicken is chocking, and I massage their throats, I can feel the pellets in their throats.