head bobbing

[dehowery]

We have 2 new 2 1/2 month old ameraucana chickens one of them "thelma" is doing something I have not seen the other hens do... Head Bobbing then she looks like she might throw up ? Is anyone familiar with this behavior. She seems to be very healthy and they both eat like pigs. ????

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Repeated head bobbing? Or doing it once or twice and than not for a while again? Is she raising her head and yawning? Which is crop adjusting. Young birds are notorious for eating a lot.

 

[dehowery]

The front of her (chest) seems to be much larger then the other hen we think they are the same age. If this is a crop problem would you know how we deal with it?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

To determine if there's a problem with the crop emptying you should check her in the morning after picking up all feed the night before. Her crop should be empty. If it isn't than I would worry, otherwise they all eat different amounts, some are more piggy than others.

If you find a full feeling crop in the am with no access to feed, than sometimes a gentle massage can get things unstuck.