good_egg Posted July 6, 2012 Share Posted July 6, 2012 I've only had my girls about 10 days but already I can't imagine not having them, we have totally got into a wee routine and they are so hypnotic. However being new to chickens I am worrying about every new thing they do! Vivienne (our RIRx) has a habit of eating too much to fast and then sort of sneezing some back out. She also does a sort of yawn sometimes. Having read on here about gapeworm I am now panicking that she has this..... She seems perfectly healthy and happy otherwise. Do they yawn under other circumstances? And are there any other symptoms so I could know? I've ordered some of the marriages pellets with flubenvet as we had only wormed them with vermex but don't think they'll arrive til Monday! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heth1986 Posted July 6, 2012 Share Posted July 6, 2012 Hi Good_egg, Sorry I can't help much with the 'yawning' part, I'm sure there will be a super experienced chicken person along shortly... Worming wise though, if you haven't wormed with flubenvet yet then most people would suggest that you do so as a precaution. From what I've heard, Verm-X is more of a preventative than a cure so if your girls already had a couple of worms when you got them then it wont necessarily get rid of them for you. I also used to use verm-X but I swear by Flubenvet now. Good luck with your girls, I'm sure you'll waste plenty of time watching them do nothing They're rather addictive aren't they?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted July 6, 2012 Share Posted July 6, 2012 they do yawn from time to time some more than others if you've only had them 10 days and they weren't kept on grass/ out doors at the place you brought them from then they shouldn't need worming just yet may be do it towards the end of August. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roselady Posted July 6, 2012 Share Posted July 6, 2012 Hello I cant help either with the yawning, other than mine do it occasionally and have done since we got them seven weeks ago. They've all had a visit to the vet when one of them was poorly and nothing was picked up then and they've had a faecal sample done which was clear, so maybe its just something they do occasionally?? I also worry about everything new they do, every little thing! In fact this morning they've all behaved very strangely and I'm hoping its the weather that's bothering them ???? Let them out at 6:30 before work as I usually do, then they gobbled some food and water first as usual, but then when they ventured out of their run they were timid and skittish and constantly stretching up like little meah cats - almost sniffing the air! It's so oppressive this morning and the cloud is so low and dark, it could be that I suppose. Cant wait to get home to see them. Sorry Good Egg I've hi-jacked your post Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dance in the dark Posted July 6, 2012 Share Posted July 6, 2012 I completely agree with SJP on the worming front, I would wait a month or two. Check the use by dates on the pellets though, and if they run out before then (which they shouldn't but it does happen) then it won't hurt them to give them a worming. As for the yawning, that is perfectly normal, mine do that, and sometimes it looks like they are just kind of flexing their beak, if that makes sense, so I wouldn't worry about it. Some breeds are much more likely to gobble down food, and from what I know RIR's have a healthy appetite. As always, keep an eye on here, but I don't think gobbling down pellets is likely to be the cause of any digesting problems, given that chickens doing chew and macerate their food in the same way we do. And, just a side note about verm-x, it is useless. I have never spoken to any experienced chicken keeper who recommends it. It certainly does not get rid of worms, and there is no real evidence to show that it even prevents them. I cannot comment on whether there are and health/conditioning benefits from the herbalness, but as far as worms are concerned, it is useless. Rant over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted July 6, 2012 Share Posted July 6, 2012 Verm x have had to reword all of their ads now to remove reference to worms. Its not a wormer. the yawning is probably the hen moving food around in her crop - they do this if its uncomfy I very much doubt that its gapeworm but it is worth noting that to rid a bird of Gapeworm you need a double dose of Flubenvet, the ready mixed contain a single dose only so you would need to get some flubenvet powder and add a dose of that to the already medicated pellets in order to get the required double dose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
good_egg Posted July 6, 2012 Author Share Posted July 6, 2012 I haven't managed to get back on to the forum until now (job getting in the way of chickens - shocking! ). I was worrying there would be lots of horror stories in response and instead there are just lovely reassuring comments and I can finally relax a bit. So glad that other people have seen this and it is normal Thank you so much for all of your help - sorry to be a total panicker! SJP and dance in the dark - they were on grass before, so does that mean I should consider worming them. I could contact the lady and check if they were done. But as she sold me the verm-x I am wondering if i should do so anyway. Roselady, not hijacked at all. I usually do that to other people anyway, so no problem. I have to say I am glad I found out about Verm-x. I had totally assumed it worked as a wormer and it is scary to find out that lots of people have made this mistake and it is a common perception. WIll use flubenvet going forwards! Last question (for now). Should I "double dose" for the first time in case there are any gape worm or do people only do this if there is a definite case? Thank you so much everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackian Posted July 6, 2012 Share Posted July 6, 2012 Welcome to the wonderful world of chicken keeping and panicing . I have had my girls over a year now and still panic almost daily My kids (all adults now tell me I worry more about the chickens than I ever did about them ) .Mine yawn and I read somewhere that it is usually to do with clearing their crop but totally normal. I let my girls out of their coup at 6.30 and shut in their WIR until I get back from work at 1pm ..I cycle to and fro and I am sure I pedal faster since I had these girls...I can't wait to get home to them. They have taken over our lives ,worrying about them is a good sign you would not want to be with out them in your garden now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_B Posted July 7, 2012 Share Posted July 7, 2012 I've only had my girls about 10 days but already I can't imagine not having them, we have totally got into a wee routine and they are so hypnotic. However being new to chickens I am worrying about every new thing they do! Vivienne (our RIRx) has a habit of eating too much to fast and then sort of sneezing some back out. She also does a sort of yawn sometimes. Having read on here about gapeworm I am now panicking that she has this..... She seems perfectly healthy and happy otherwise. Do they yawn under other circumstances? And are there any other symptoms so I could know? I've ordered some of the marriages pellets with flubenvet as we had only wormed them with vermex but don't think they'll arrive til Monday! I am totally with you on the paranoid part. I have got upset so many times thinking I have made huge mistakes - you are definitely not alone! I have hand my chooks just over a week myself and the worry is starting to take over the joy a little bit at the moment. My chooks have little sneezes now and then as well as open their beak up - they have had this since I have had them and everything seems OK. I would worm them only to ensure you have covered yourself and the girls. I will be doing so soon to make sure! Keep your chin up! x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
