Dangri Posted July 6, 2010 Share Posted July 6, 2010 I'm new to this and have had my little ones for just overa week now... I've got all the manuals for looking after chooks, but I'm a bit stumped with one of them. The youngest (20 weeks) seems to walk around with her beak open... a lot, is this because she's hot? She also does some sneezing every now and again (like when she's had her beak in the "grub" she'll come out and sneeze!) I've also noticed that she has a clipped beak - is this all normal? She seems very tame, loves coming up to me and has the annoying habit of following me about in the garden (to the point that if I'm in the garden potting plants on my knees she'll come up behind me, stand there and just wait - I've nearly sat on her a number of times now!) The other bird seems happy to do her own thing and doesn't seem to walk about with her beak open - which makes me think there's something wrong with the younger one? Both birds seem to be getting enough water. Any suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jellykelly Posted July 6, 2010 Share Posted July 6, 2010 One of my hens has had a beak open during the warm spell. She is black though and probably the warmest of all of them. I do believe it's them trying to cool off. They will hold there wings slightly away from their body too (at least mine do). Poor little mites must be feeling it - they are walking about with the equivilent of a a 15tog duvet on them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted July 6, 2010 Share Posted July 6, 2010 I think the key thing is getting to know what's normal for your hens - mostly they will have their beaks closed, but I've noticed one of mine with an open beak lately, and I agree it's probably to do with the heat, as is holding their wings out. Are your chickens pecking for things, eating, drinking, running around and generally looking active? If they are then there's not much wrong - a sick chicken will be quiet, hunched, not moving much, not interested in food and so on. As Claret once put it, and it's a description that's stuck with me, a healthy chicken is always busy! Even if they are dustbathing/snoozing, they will usually leap into action if they see food. You will soon get a feel for what is normal, and it sounds to me as this is just normal for your particular hen. If her behaviour in all other respects mirrors that of your other hen, then I wouldn't worry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
