This post may contain affiliate links.
Have you recently noticed your chickens making gagging motions and wondered what might be causing this behavior? While hens, chicks, and roosters are known for their head-bobbing and other typical movements, gagging or head-shuffling might seem out of the ordinary and cause concern.
This unusual behavior might look different from the normal stride you’re used to seeing in your poultry, leading you to worry that your chicken might be ill. Fortunately, it’s not usually a sign of sickness. Let’s explore some common reasons behind gagging motions in chickens and what you can do to address them.
1. Rearranging The Crop
The most common reason for gagging motions is merely your chicken rearranging its crop. If you’re new to keeping chickens, the crop is a small pouch that stores food before sending it to the stomach.
Inside the crop, digestive enzymes break down the feed and prepare it for the GI system to digest. Because the crop contains a number of dry components or large chunks of feed, things often get stuck or need to be maneuvered around.
This is a regular occurrence in all poultry. To rearrange the crop, chickens will bob their head in a gagging motion to settle the contents within.
2. Issues With The Crop
If you notice your chicken gagging excessively or appearing distressed, it could be a sign of an impacted crop. Crop impaction happens when something gets stuck in the crop, often due to the chicken ingesting a foreign object like hay or nesting material.
Checking for crop impaction is simple. Gently feel along the neck, just below the esophagus, and see if the crop area feels unusually full or swollen.
If you suspect an impaction, you can try gently massaging the crop to help your chicken pass the blockage. However, if your chicken shows more severe symptoms, such as lethargy, vomiting, or a lack of droppings, it may require more intensive treatment.
It’s important to isolate any sick bird from the rest of the flock and closely monitor its condition.
Some poultry owners recommend adding magnesium citrate to the chicken’s water to help soothe the crop and support digestion, similar to how humans use it for digestive issues. However, if the obstruction is too large, surgery may be necessary. Fortunately, this surgery is relatively simple and should cause minimal harm to your chicken.
A large or recurring obstruction can stretch the crop muscle, leading to a condition known as “pendulous crop.” Always consult with a veterinarian to examine the bird before starting any treatment.
3. A Sour Crop
Your chicken’s gagging motions could also be due to a condition known as “sour crop,” which occurs when there’s a bacterial overgrowth in the crop, preventing proper emptying and digestion. Sour crop is typically accompanied by a foul odor, and like an impacted crop, the area will feel swollen.
When checking for sour crop, you’ll notice that it feels softer and more “malleable,” often described as mushy. While gently massaging the crop might help relieve the blockage, keep in mind that the area could be tender. If you observe additional symptoms such as beak discharge, diarrhea, or lethargy, your chicken may have a more serious infection that requires more intensive treatment.
Sour crop can be caused by various factors, including worms, injury, or even as a side effect of antibiotics. Antibiotics can disrupt the natural bacterial balance in the crop, leading to an overgrowth of harmful bacteria. If your chicken is on antibiotics, you might need to adjust the dosage or reconsider its use.
4. Worms
If you notice one of your chickens making gagging motions, it’s important to monitor the rest of your flock as well. While it’s less common, worms can be a cause of crop impaction and head bobbing in chickens. Worms are fairly common in poultry, but if they grow too quickly, they can block the connection between the crop and the intestines, preventing the crop from emptying properly.
In some cases, worms may partially obstruct the crop, slowing down its emptying without causing a complete blockage. To protect your flock, it’s a good idea to establish a regular routine to prevent worms and parasitic infections.
Many poultry keepers add small amounts of apple cider vinegar to their chickens’ water, which is believed to help reduce the presence of worms. Some have also had success using garlic, as well as various medical treatments available from vets or supply stores, which can prevent worm eggs from hatching in feces.
5. Less Common Causes
There are also less common reasons why a chicken might exhibit gagging behavior, including internal growths, parasites, pendulous crops, and other issues. If you suspect that something may be wrong with your chicken, it’s always a good idea to consult with a licensed vet or an experienced handler.
They can help rule out more serious illnesses and provide the appropriate treatment, whether it’s medication or, if necessary, surgery. Ideally, though, they’ll be able to reassure you that your chicken’s behavior is normal and just a natural reaction to its environment.
How to Monitor Your Chicken’s Health
Gagging motions are effectively harmless, and rarely a sign of anything more critical. Chickens clear their crops daily, so seeing this motion shouldn’t be an immediate sign of concern. The only time you should be concerned is if the chicken is displaying any other symptoms or looks generally unwell.
One good way to rule out crop issues is to inspect each of your chickens’ crops in the morning. You can massage small masses as needed, which will prevent larger masses from accumulating.
Chicken Gagging and Behavioral Issues
What if your chicken is making a gagging motion, but its crop is empty? This is a phenomenon that some chicken keepers have noticed, and while it might seem odd, there are a few theories as to why it happens, especially when there are no other concerning symptoms.
Interestingly, when roosters crow, their ear holes close as their beak opens, an evolutionary adaptation that protects their hearing from the loud noise. This mechanism might explain why roosters, hens, and even chicks sometimes display a gagging motion in response to loud sounds or stimuli.
It’s possible that this behavior is an involuntary reaction, or perhaps it’s the chicken’s way of coping with loud noises, much like a person might cover their ears. Thankfully, this appears to be a harmless behavior. If you’re curious, you could try making a loud noise to see if the gagging motion occurs again, helping to confirm whether this is the cause.
Anecdotal Observations
Another instance in which chickens make gagging motions, some keepers have observed, is in response to other stimuli. Most notably, this is the result of the farmer’s breath or a gust of wind. This ticklish sensation causes the chicken to bob its head, perhaps similar to how humans get goosebumps.
Again, it could also be the chicken trying to close its ear holes. If your chicken only makes a gagging motion when you’re nearby or holding it, this could also be the reason.
Establishing a Routine to Prevent Gagging Motions in Chickens
To ensure your chicken’s gagging motions aren’t due to a serious illness, it’s important to establish a proper care routine. Start by checking your chickens’ crops each morning, rather than at night, since chickens tend to fill their crops before bedtime and digest their food overnight.
To help prevent worms and other parasitic infections, add small amounts of apple cider vinegar to their water and always make sure they have access to fresh, clean water. Contaminated water can be a breeding ground for harmful bacteria and parasites, so keeping the water supply clean is crucial for your chickens’ health.
Sour crop, for instance, can develop if your chicken drinks from a standing puddle or a contaminated water source. After rainfall, be sure to replace any standing water and remove puddles from the yard to minimize this risk.
Each morning, after checking your chicken’s crop, take a moment to inspect the coop and yard for any foreign materials that your chickens might mistakenly eat. Additionally, make sure the grasses in their feeding area are short and easily digestible. Longer, thicker grasses are a common cause of crop impaction and are easily preventable with regular maintenance.
By following these daily care practices, you can help prevent serious health issues and better understand any new behaviors you observe in your chickens.
More often than not, a chicken making gagging motions is something of no concern. Some of the more serious potential causes might be worrying to read about, but it’s beneficial to know the anatomy of poultry and how things can get out of sync.
With a better understanding of your chicken’s overall health, you can ensure that she will be happy for years to come.