Broody Hen With Head Shaking! HELP!

[essie1219]

I have a hen that has been sitting on eggs...today is day 16, with expected hatch day next week. I have been hand feeding and holding her water close enough for her to drink daily bc she doesn't want to get up and eat...she wants to sit on her precious eggs. Food and water is always in there and accessible. Today, when I went to feed/water her her head was twitching really bad. She did stand up and drink allot of water but I'm very worried about her twitching...seems very uncontrolled. This is my first experience with a broody hen and first hatching experience. Can someone please offer me some advise or tell me to stop worrying.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

How often does her head shake? How many seconds?

 

[sourland]

I'm not sure what is causing the twitching, but you want to make sure that she gets up off of the eggs daily or she will defecate in the nest possibly ruining the eggs. It is never a good idea to feed or water a setting hen on the nest.

Check carefully to make sure that she is not mite infested. Sometimes mites severely infest a brooding hen - the itching and movement can cause the hen to shake her head.

 

[essie1219]

Every 10 or 15 seconds but I just went back out to look at her and she is back down on her eggs, closed her eyes and tucked her head under her feathers like she was going to sleep....its a bit chilly here today if that has anything to do with it. never seen her tuck her head like that but then again, never really watched them while they sleep either.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Every 10 or 15 seconds but I just went back out to look at her and she is back down on her eggs, closed her eyes and tucked her head under her feathers like she was going to sleep....its a bit chilly here today if that has anything to do with it. never seen her tuck her head like that but then again, never really watched them while they sleep either.

My chickens in the past shake their heads every 10-15 seconds when they have the Northern Fowl Mite. If you would like to treat this is what I do:

Mites can kill chickens. I would definitely dust or spray her with permethrin poultry dust or diluted liquid (and the coop too- and all your chickens), tossing all bedding and nest box material. Repeat in 7 days, including tossing coop materials to break the life cycle.

I never did find bugs on the chickens when they had it. I found them on me, biting me. They move very fast and run up your arms when you gather eggs. So if you feel itchy when you do your chicken chores that is another way to tell, besides the usual inspection of the chicken for bugs.

It can also be caused by an ear infection/mites or respiratory infection where they shake the head to clear the mucus. Chickens will also shake their heads when you talk to them in an enclosed area, such as inside a shed.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I'm not sure what is causing the twitching, but you want to make sure that she gets up off of the eggs daily or she will defecate in the nest possibly ruining the eggs. It is never a good idea to feed or water a setting hen on the nest.

Check carefully to make sure that she is not mite infested. Sometimes mites severely infest a brooding hen - the itching and movement can cause the hen to shake her head.

x2 well said

 

[essie1219]

Can I dust her while she is sitting on the eggs? We are getting so close to hatch day....

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Can I dust her while she is sitting on the eggs? We are getting so close to hatch day....

It is very important to get rid of mites before the babies hatch. I would not want to dust new chicks unless there was an infestation. Also the mites might kill the chicks if she has mites. But you have to decide whether you think she has mites. You can look under her wings and vent area to check her.