Chicken seems very listless and constantly shaking its head ideas

[arsenal113]

The chicken is about a year old a susssex light her comb and face is very pale pink tail feathers are hanging down, she is not interacting with the other birds. We do seem to have discovered a red mite infestation which we are treating, please help with any ideas.

thanks in advance

Phil

 

[ScaredOfShadows]

not sure what the problem is as it could be many things. With the shaking head, check the chicken very closely.

Heres a checklist you should do to help everyone get a better idea whats going on and a better solution to your poor hen's problems:

How long as this chicken acted listless?

Eyes : are they clear? Watery? Bubbly? Swollen? Keeping them shut?
Nose: Draining/runny? If yes, is the discharge clear or colored? Is the nose plugged up with 'crust' or 'boogers'??
Mouth : COLOR : is the color pinkish? very pale? Yellow? Smell : does it smell like grain, sickly sweet, or foul and pungent?

Body: Is she light like she hasn't been eating much lately? Feel like a normal body weight?

Crop (lower neck/upper chest) : do you feel the full ball shape or no solid mass at all?



Quick simple solutions to help perk her up : Seperate from the flock and give her sugar or honey in her water. (if possible its best to add vitamin/electrolyte solution to add - feedstores always have some type you can add to water - even wal-mart baby electrolytes would work) this should help keep her hydrated and perk her up. it could possibly be the heat got to her and shes dehydrated....


sorry i couldn't be of more help!

 

[stargirl]

Sounds like mites to me, possibly in the ears. I'd go in hard on the mite killer and see if there's any change x

 

[dawg53]

Here's info and treatment for lice/mites:
http://ohioline.osu.edu/vme-fact/0018.html
Use an eyedropper to put a few drops of vegetable oil in the ears to smother ear mites.