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Noticing your backyard chickens yawning? Don’t worry, it’s perfectly normal. Chickens, like other animals, yawn occasionally, and this behavior is nothing to be concerned about. Those who manage poultry farms are well-acquainted with the sight of their chickens yawning from time to time.
It’s important to remember that chickens are different from humans—they belong to the avian class, while humans are mammals. Chicken yawning is not the same as human yawning, which often happens when we’re tired. So, there’s no need to confuse the two.
This article aims to explain the scientific reasons behind why your chickens yawn. Additionally, it offers valuable information about the symptoms that may indicate the presence of worms in your chickens.
Do Chicken Yawn?
Yes, chickens do yawn, or at least it appears that way when they open their mouths. However, what’s actually happening is a bit different. Often, this “yawning” is simply the chickens swallowing their food, which can look like yawning.
This typically occurs when chickens fill their crops with dry feed. Once they drink water, the dry feed expands, which can give the impression that they are yawning. In older chickens, frequent yawning might also indicate the presence of worms, though this is less likely in young chicks still in the brooder.
So, when chickens with dry feed in their crops drink water, the expansion of the feed can make it seem like they’re yawning. It’s important to note that this is different from human yawning, so there’s no need to mix the two up.
Why Does My Hen Keep Opening Her Mouth?
If you notice your chicken frequently opening its mouth, there could be several reasons behind this behavior. Typically, a hen will open its mouth when it’s hungry, using it to eat. It will also open its mouth to drink water, especially on a hot day.
However, chickens may open their mouths for another reason—breathing. While chickens usually breathe through their nostrils, it’s not uncommon for a healthy bird to breathe through its mouth, particularly in warm weather. Open-mouth breathing can help a chicken cool down on a hot day.
In some cases, though, mouth breathing may signal that the chicken is stressed or experiencing respiratory issues. One such issue could be a gapeworm infection.
Chickens infected with gapeworms often open their mouths frequently and gasp for air, struggling to breathe. If your chicken is showing these symptoms, it could be a sign of a gapeworm infestation.
Why Do Chickens Yawn?
Chickens often yawn as a way to adjust their crops. After filling their crops with dry feed, they may need to realign things to make space. When chickens drink water after eating dry feed, the feed can expand, which might look like yawning.
This yawning behavior is completely natural and isn’t related to tiredness, as it is in humans. It’s important not to confuse a chicken’s yawning with human yawning, as the two actions serve different purposes.
