Why does a chicken make gagging movements with mouth?

[Peedy-FatStack]

Hello, MY chicken began doing this repeated yawning thing with opening her mouth and its not her usual behavior. Ive recently had them checked at the vet and their poop was all clear for worms. Is gape worm something thats checked in stool samples or simply the throat? Could it be somthing else?
Thanks

 

[azygous]

As this old thread informs, this is normal, occasional behavior with all chickens, including baby chicks. I emphasize occasional because if it continues beyond just a few minutes, it could indicate a crop disorder.

A chicken will engage in this neck thrust and beak gape when it feels a discomfort in its crop. Usually this movement will enable the contents of the crop to rearrange in the crop so they may begin to move down and empty, providing relief. You may help provide relief by massaging the crop in a circular and downward motion.

When there's an obstruction such as an impaction or a yeast infection, the contents won't move down, and the crop won't empty, so the chicken continues this behavior for hours. That should be your clue to examine your chicken thoroughly. It helps to isolate this individual.

Feel the crop. Note if the contents feel squishy and full or if there's merely a small, hard lump in an otherwise empty crop. The first indicates a possible yeast infection while the latter indicates an impaction.

You also need to note the poop of this chicken. Isolate until you see what the poop looks like. Hard, dry poop signifies impaction. Watery, greenish poop with white, cheesy substance signifies a yeast infection. This is important so you will know what you need to treat.

By the way, while it could be gape worm, it is much more likely to be a yeast infection or impacted crop.

 

[Peedy-FatStack]

As this old thread informs, this is normal, occasional behavior with all chickens, including baby chicks. I emphasize occasional because if it continues beyond just a few minutes, it could indicate a crop disorder.

A chicken will engage in this neck thrust and beak gape when it feels a discomfort in its crop. Usually this movement will enable the contents of the crop to rearrange in the crop so they may begin to move down and empty, providing relief. You may help provide relief by massaging the crop in a circular and downward motion.

When there's an obstruction such as an impaction or a yeast infection, the contents won't move down, and the crop won't empty, so the chicken continues this behavior for hours. That should be your clue to examine your chicken thoroughly. It helps to isolate this individual.

Feel the crop. Note if the contents feel squishy and full or if there's merely a small, hard lump in an otherwise empty crop. The first indicates a possible yeast infection while the latter indicates an impaction.

You also need to note the poop of this chicken. Isolate until you see what the poop looks like. Hard, dry poop signifies impaction. Watery, greenish poop with white, cheesy substance signifies a yeast infection. This is important so you will know what you need to treat.

By the way, while it could be gape worm, it is much more likely to be a yeast infection or impacted crop.

Thank you I appreciate the response it was helpful. I have been watching her for about an hour and half and she seems to have stopped for the time being but I will continue to monitor it for the day and analyze her poop. It may have been that she did work out what was in there after all( I hope).
Thanks

 

[Chickendirt]

This thread answers my question too, thanks folks!

 

[Jayson_Black]

Some Humans with Anxiety disorders (like me) have constant yawning as one of the symptoms. I don't know if hatchlings get anxiety, but yeh, Sometimes if I am getting an attack I have a constant and relentless and powerful urge to yawn. Yawning does not clear this feeling. you yawn, and with 5 seconds are fighting the urge all over again. It's very uncomfortable and inconvenient. Its just one of many horrible symptoms. Another (though I'm going off topic) is Hot Flushes. They are perhaps even worse than the yawning. Actually much worse. but yeh, perhaps the chicks are anxious about something. Perhaps they are unsure about their vocational opportunity's lol. that's a joke!

 

[Jillio]

What did you do to treat your birds with the respiratory infection?? Thanks. I need to treat mine for this.

I'd be hesitant to trust a shop worker at a feed store unless they have a ton of poultry knowledge (or somehow they're a vet ). I freaked a little bit with one of my roosters this summer when it was warm, but not hot. He kept panting and that was the only "symptom." Now that the weather is very cool and night and during the day, he doesn't pant at all.

Folks on here, rightfully said to relax...and to let him be if he had no other symptoms of illness.

If the bird has bright eyes, a good appetite, fine poops, and is acting normally, I wouldn't treat them for anything if all they do is yawn. When the birds have a respiratory infection (I've only had one bird with one that didn't make it - he was sick when I got him and eventually had to be put down,) it seems fairly obvious after a few days. The bird will have less energy, may make a popping/crackling noise when breathing, and may have other symptoms (diarrhea, discharge from eyes/nose, etc.)

I can be a little bit of a hypochondriac too when it comes to thinking my pets are ill....but I try not to jump to immediate conclusions now. Harm can be done if you give an animal medication when not necessary.

How are your birds doing now?

 

[FreedomGalTx]

What is gape worm?

Worm that gets in the throat causing frequent "gagging" Idk much more. But ivermectin paste works

 

[Carlyb22]

I had a chicken doing this CONSTANTLY and it turned out she had an impacted crop. It wasn’t bad and I caught it early so I was able to bring her inside with just water and grit, no food and hand feed her some coconut oil. I gave it to her 3 times a day a massaged her crop 3-4 times a day and by day 3 her crop was empty! I’d just pay attention and make sure her crop is emptying. I really noticed because first thing in the morning when I was letting them out everyone had empty crops except her.