Gaping...normal...or...not

[caralynnp]

One of my NHR pullets does the gaping thing fairly regularly. She is perfectly healthy in all ways. I looked down her throat and it just looked like a chicken throat to me. Nothing in stool. I haven't put out grit because they eat crumbles. would that make a difference? I've seen the 3 week olds do it too but I think everyone is healthy, maybe just need some grit to get everything down? I do spend a lot of time watching the chickens

so maybe this is normal...gaping i mean, not the chicken watching, I know that isn't normal

 

[organicfoltzfamilyfarm]

They pant when it is hot. Just heat related if she has no other symptoms.

 

[OregonChickenGal]

You chickens will still need grit if they don't have any small pebbles to eat. They need it to help digest their food.

 

[austradork]

One of my chickens gapes all the time. She's a chronic over-eater, and during treat time, she just goes to TOWN! Then, like clockwork, she sits down in a pile of dirt and gapes for a good half hour. I heard that sometimes they do this to re-arrange food in their crops and otherwise help move along the digestive process.