Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[wendalgar]

I have 1 new blackrock girl who seems healthy and recently started laying well. BUT! Occassionally I see her with her head in the air and her mouth wide open, sort of a combination of a yawn and a gag. She doesnt seem bothered by it at all but to me, it looks horrible! Is this normal!?

[pipistrelle]

No expert as new to this myself, but from what I've read on here it sounds like she's just rearranging the contents of her crop.

[JanTheDiver]

Mine do this frequently, I got really worried the first time I saw it but now I don't take much notice.

 

I don't know why they do it but the answer Pipistrelle gave is logical.

 

Happy hen keeping

[Bertrum]

Yup, ours do it as well. We were quite disturbed by it at first too.

[Cheryl]

if shes ok otherwise then I wouldnt worry, if shes snuffly or looks like she has breathing diffculties then perhaps some 'flubenvet' not a bad idea anyway to worm them, gapeworm is a parasite that could cause this, but I doubt it, as everyone has said their chickens do this a bit now and then...