What the heck is she doing???

[sinistershelly]

Ok, so I'm out in the run and sat down in a lil chair next to one of the coops and did my usual chick watching for a bit. Our one girl that always has liked being held came up to me and hopped on my foot, laid down, and started falling asleep. I just sat and watched and "oooo'd" and "awwww'd" in my head at her cuteness until suddenly she starts doing what I thought at first was a yawn. But she kept doing it over and over, maybe about 6 or so times in a row. It almost looked like maybe she was gagging or choking. She didnt make any noise when doing it and didnt look like she was hurting. Eventually she stopped and fell back asleep. Should I be worried?

Cuz right now I kinda am.

 

[GardenState38]

I've seen my chicks do that from time to time.
Doesn't look like they're in any particular distress, and it passes. I was wondering if they were trying to let out a cluck or a crow? That's kind of what it looks like--as though they're trying to get a sound out.
I'd be interested if anyone has any ideas.

 

[TheSpiceGirls]

Mine yawn like that. Someone tried to tell me she had gape worm. But she'd have other symptoms if that was the case. Sounds like you had a very content hen who needed a nap.

 

[Hummingbird Hollow]

How old are these birds? I had a similar experience with my Welsummer chick when she was maybe a month old. I witnessed the same behavior either twice with one bird or once each with two (I couldn't tell them apart at that stage) and asked if perhaps she was actually a he and was trying to crow or whether I should administer some sort of chicky-Heimlich maneuver. The replies I got were about 50/50 "Yes she is probably actually a he" and "No, this is just a normal chicken behavior when they have something dry stuck in their throat". Either way, 4 weeks later both my Welsummer PULLETS (please oh please) are growing and thriving and happy, healthy looking chickens. I'm guessing yours will be fine.

 

[N&MSchroeder]

Hi and

My chickens do this all the time-it's not a problem. They are just adjusting their crops, kind of like opening your mouth wide when you are trying to get your ears to pop.

 

[sinistershelly]

They are about 4-5 week old Barred Rocks. My hubby keeps saying he thinks some might be boys but when I tried to see the difference between boy and girl barred rocks, its almost impossible. Any other key notes to tell the difference? Ill try to go take a picture of her (the gagging/crowing one) right now. While Im doing that, can someone tell me how to post the pic? Im not too computer smart

 

[Wildflower_VA]

Quote:
Barred rocks are one of the easiest to sex. The females are much darker black, the males have more white bars, so they are lighter (sort of silvery looking), plus the females have a wash of black down the front of their legs and over the feet, the males have little black on the legs and feet. This, along with other differences between the sexes, like females getting tail feathers sooner and males having bigger feet and legs makes it easy to sex them at an early age.

I got 11 straight run barred rocks three weeks ago, and so far it looks like I have seven pullets and four cockerels.

 

[sinistershelly]

Ok, so here are my pix of the lil "Gagger". I hope this works.

 

[sinistershelly]

one more time, lol Here we go

 

[Prisserbabe]

He is beautiful! But kinda looks a little rooish to me. Some of my pullets have that size a comb and there 14 weeks old.