Bobble Head Hen - 3 YR Old

[Eagle2026]

In the last week, my laying hen has begun looking to the skys and rolling its head around. She is eating and drinking normally, and is not doing this all the time, it is just sporatic behavior. I can't figure out what sickness this may be attributed. She also has not been roosting. She is nesting in the lower boxes.

Any more questions, or if you have a thought as to what this could be, please let me know.

Much appreciation!

Mike

 

[dawg53]

Possibly wry neck symptoms. Look up "wry neck" in the BYC search box for information...I've never dealt with it. Also could be ear mites if there's been any excessive ear scratching. I would visually inspect her anyway for lice or mites. I thought there might be something stuck in her throat causing her to look up and around, but since she's eating and drinking normally, I doubt that is the case.

 

[Eagle2026]

Very good advice, although I don't see any scratching or mites or lice around the head and/or ear.

 

[FireTigeris]

If her ears smell funny (like bread or yeast) she has an infected ear...

Or if she's losing her sight she may be trying to judge distances, if it is only jumping up or down...

(look up 'head weaving in rats' if you want to see the motion I speak of.)

 

[dawg53]

In addition to what FireTigeris stated about the ear infection...there could also be a discharge from the ears, like ear wax. I have treated for that before with a full hydrogen peroxide ear flush using an eyedropper and then pack the ear with neosporin. Cleared it right up.