2 week old chicks shaking head

[CDee]

Hi everyone, I'm a new chicken mom and idk maybe I'm worried over nothing but these babes are giving me anxiety. I have 6 two week old chicks - 3 Easter eggers and 3 sapphire gems. 2 of them (EE) Tuesday night started shaking their heads more than usual. They are eating, drinking, preening, scratching, and dusting in their bedding just fine. They get fresh bedding 2× per week and fresh food and water daily. I have checked for kites and nothing. They're the only 2 still doing it and they've started wiping their breaks on the ground and with their feet. I've called so many local vets and none of them see chickens (despite living in a rural area, ugh!). Is there anything OTC I could give for this? I know it's hard without knowing what it is. Any at home ways to dx? Thanks in advance

 

[alinas2010]

Hi welcome to the site! I think new chicks make us all a little crazy! How are they doing tonight? Are you about to describe a little more what they’re doing? Are they all doing it? If you are able to, get a video of it and upload it to YouTube then link it here so we can take a look.

 

[CDee]

Hi welcome to the site! I think new chicks make us all a little crazy! How are they doing tonight? Are you about to describe a little more what they’re doing? Are they all doing it? If you are able to, get a video of it and upload it to YouTube then link it here so we can take a look.

Thanks! I'm in working on posting a video! They're all very much acting normal. Flying around the brooder like crazy. Flying onto our laps when we open it up They don't shake their heads whole resting, I've noticed. They aren't all doing it only my three Easter eggers, but the two who are doing it the most have recently started getting their neck feathers and they have white dandruff looking stuff on them. I'm wondering if their feathers are itchy or painful? They are preening those areas a lot. They haven't wiped their breaks since I posted, and they only did that after I spilled some food in their brooder and they were scratching around for it. I've listened and hear no clicking when they breathe and no sneezing. Just the twitching and occasional scratching at their face/neck area. I'm giving them durvet water supplements still.

 

[alinas2010]

Thanks! I'm in working on posting a video! They're all very much acting normal. Flying around the brooder like crazy. Flying onto our laps when we open it up They don't shake their heads whole resting, I've noticed. They aren't all doing it only my three Easter eggers, but the two who are doing it the most have recently started getting their neck feathers and they have white dandruff looking stuff on them. I'm wondering if their feathers are itchy or painful? They are preening those areas a lot. They haven't wiped their breaks since I posted, and they only did that after I spilled some food in their brooder and they were scratching around for it. I've listened and hear no clicking when they breathe and no sneezing. Just the twitching and occasional scratching at their face/neck area. I'm giving them durvet water supplements still.

Ah, I bet you’re right about the new feathers being itchy. Chicks go through a few molts before reaching adulthood, then they won’t molt for a good year after that last chick molt. When they lose the down fluff and grow in those new feathers they are itchy, uncomfortable and pokey coming through the skin. The white dandruff material is the sheath that is around the new feather coming in

As long as they keep acting like normal happy chicks, I don’t think you have much to worry about. You seem to be keeping a very good eye on them, I’m confident you will notice if something is wrong. One suggesting I have it to check their little ears and be sure there isn’t anything stuck in them.