Stretching out neck and opening mouth wide??????

[kickinchicken]

2 of my 6 week old chicks are stretching out their necks and opening their mouths wide today and I am 99% sure they haven't eaten an earthworm. So is this a normal behavior or should I be worried. I have had them outside twice this week for about 4 hours each time and I was about 20 feet in range. Also, one of these chicks is very chirpy today. I thought it was just her being happy, but after just watching them I noticed this behavior.

 

[kristen2678]

Mine did this too and I was totally freaked. I thought they were choking or trying to crow. It turned out to be normal behavior. Someone mentioned it might be them moving food to or from their crop. I'm not sure if that's true or not, but over time it stopped. My girls are fine.

 

[elmo]

Don't worry, that's very typical behavior. They're just rearranging food in their crops.

 

[kickinchicken]

oh, great

I was so worried about my little girls. I am a dog expert but am a newbie with the whole hen thing. Ask me anything dog-related and I can pretty much answer it, but birds....well. I am still learning!

Thanks for the quick replies.

 

[dappertophatter]

I've noticed my girls yawning!! It's most likely them swallowing something big or rearranging food in their crops like elmo said.

 

[elmo]

Just wait until you notice a cecal poop that fizzes! That's completely normal, too.

http://www.chat.allotment.org.uk/index.php?topic=17568.0