Chickens are one of the oldest and most domesticated birds. They have entertained us with their charming feathers, curious stares, cockfights, and mating rituals. In the sixth century, roosters were used as religious emblems.

Today they are the most popular meat protein source across the world. It’s understandable why scientists across all disciplines agree that understanding chickens is a necessity.

These birds may act like humans sometimes, like when they yawn. But was that a yawn? Do chickens yawn? Or is it a sign of something else entirely?

Chickens yawn for one of five reasons, either to free up dry food blocking their digestive passage, to avoid suffocating from worms blocking their air supply, when they are adjusting their crop, to help food move down the crop or because of a respiratory issue.

Do chickens yawn? 5 reasons why they do this

You do it, I do it, apparently, chickens do it too, we all yawn for some reason or another. Psychologists have 20 different ideas on why people yawn ranging from boredom, hunger, and tiredness. But chickens yawn for different reasons than humans do. 

Do chickens yawn for the same reasons as we do? Well no, research shows that yawning in chickens is a telltale sign that something is up with the bird.

In fact, it could be a simple yet critical indicator of a potentially life-threatening condition in chickens. Here are reasons why chickens yawn: 

Digestive issues: 

One reason why chickens yawn is because of digestive issues. Chickens don’t have saliva or teeth and their digestive tracks are not as long as other animals.

They have a pouch called a crop just below their neck and near the center of their chest. It’s the first stage of digestion where food is chemically broken down and small pellets in the crop mash food particles down into simpler bits.

If the food is too dry, the crop can get congested and serious issues can occur. If the food is too dry it can cause blockages in the throat and other digestion pathways.

Chickens “yawn” to flex their necks and stretch their digestive tracks to help ease blockages along and rearrange whatever food is stuck in their crop

Adjusting the crop: 

Food stuck in the crop may not always be the issue, the crop itself may pose a problem for the bird. The bird may simply be trying to adjust its crop, this may look like it is yawning. 

Birds will adjust their crop early in the morning, they will do this first thing when they wake up. Your bird may also continue to adjust its crop throughout the day.

This is nothing to worry about, your bird will only do this if the crop is sitting uncomfortably. Adjusting the crop can also be called rearranging the crop. 

Food moving down the crop 

The bird’s esophagus may sometimes need help getting food from the crop. Digestion doesn’t always happen so smoothly and the rest of the body may need to get involved during digestion. 

If the bird starts extending its neck and opening its mouth, as if it is yawning, then it is likely helping food move down the esophagus into the rest of the digestive system. This movement pushes food down 

Gape worms: 

This is another reason for chickens yawning, it is a more serious issue.

Worms are the most common and most invasive parasites around. Gape worms living in the soil, or attached to other meats and foods, can find their way into the digestive tracts of chickens.

These worms prefer to live and grow in the throat walls and breathing passages of chickens. As these worms multiply, they block the air supply of chickens.

A yawning chicken is often an attempt to get air because it is congested and maybe suffocating as it struggles to breathe.

Respiratory issues: 

Chickens can suffer from a variety of respiratory illnesses and diseases. If an animal were to show vulnerability or signs of illness or weakness in the wild, a predator would most likely attack it.

Because animals have evolved to not show vulnerability or illnesses in the wild, the only clue you’d see that would signal that a chicken is suffering from a respiratory illness is yawning.

This yawning could actually be a sign that the bird is struggling to get air into its body. Other signs of respiratory diseases in chickens include a decreased appetite, eye discharge, open mouth breathing, weight loss, and lethargy.

What to do about chickens yawning? 

While an occasional yawn may not be a reason for immediate alarm, frequent yawning in chickens calls for immediate action.

If the yawning happens because the bird is digesting food then you have nothing to worry about, allow the bird to pass the food. 

If the yawning happens because the crop is full of dry feed, give the chicken some fluids to moisten the food in their crop. You need to have a good supply of water available for chickens.

Some farmers suggest that if the chicken’s crop is filled with dry feed, you should soak cat food with apple cider and feed it to chickens, this usually gets everything flowing again.

If chickens are yawning because of gapeworms blocking their air passage, you need to medically treat the bird. You would need to buy medicated products to de-worm the chicken. If the yawning and forced breathing is severe then you need to urgently visit or call a vet.

Medications that the vet may prescribe to help the chicken with this ailment include Flubenvet and Panacur. Giving your bird a course of Flubenvet (7-day course) should help the bird recover from gapeworm. Panacur given via a syringe and crop tube can also help with the gapeworm.  

If the yawning happens as a result of a respiratory disease it is recommended that you take your bird to a vet as soon as you can. The bird could be much sicker than you think.  

What are symptoms of worms in chickens?

Symptoms of worms in chickens include yawning, wheezing, runny nostrils, gasping for breath, frequent neck stretching, and a shaking of the head. Deep gurgling sounds, choking, loss of appetite, and reduced activity are signs of illness in chickens.

Does apple cider vinegar kill worms in chickens?

A popular home remedy for worms is apple cider vinegar. Raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar is a great antibiotic, it is able to reduce bacteria and parasitic growth. It also reduces the acidity level in the chicken’s crop making it an undesirable place for worms to lay eggs and grow.

Vets advise that apple cider is beneficial to a chicken’s health but because it is a homemade remedy, it alone won’t be effective against worms. There needs to be actual deworming medicine given to chickens to successfully and efficiently eradicate worms.

When should you worm chickens?

Gape worms are persistent and can survive in the soil for up to 4 years. These worms can also transfer from one animal to another.

For this reason, it is vital for poultry farmers and chicken pet owners to regularly give chickens worm treatment. Some suggest a 4 – 6 weeks cycle is best to ensure chickens are healthy and free of worms.

Conclusion

Yes, chickens do “yawn” but unlike humans, their yawns don’t happen out of boredom or tiredness but rather because of health and digestive track issues.

Chickens yawn to free up dry food blocking their digestive passages ways, to adjust their crop, and to help food move down the crop.

Chickens also yawn and wheeze in an attempt not to suffocate from worms blocking their air supply. Apple cider and regular worm medications are necessary to eradicate gapeworms.

Yawning can also happen because of respiratory disease. Take the bird to the vet if you suspect that this is happening with your bird 

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