ECCENTRIC, NORMAL OR......SICK / GAPE WORMS?

[roosmom]

I did a search a search about head shaking. The 4 of 9 pages I read all seemed to have actual problems with gape worm and I am not sure this is my problem. That is why I am posting this here.
I have 44 7 (just about) month old Buff Orpingtons. They are on brown leaves in the ccop and run. They get fed layers crumbles and water with vinegar in it. They get oatmeal, fresh vegies, yogurt and corn as treats now snow has started. Here is my dilemma.
My ROO.....yes he is a rooster lol. He OCCASIONALLY shakes his head. No other symptoms. His poo is fine, no sneezing or runny nose, no open mouth breathing. This has been going on for at least three months. I waited for it to go away, but it hasnt.
So I am wondering, does anyone else have this happen?
If it is gape worms, can I see them in the throat?
Is this just a twitch?
I am hoping this is something simple everybody has went thru. Please let me know.

 

[speckledhen]

Could be ear mites or some pest, but roosters have that Stevie Wonder thing going on and will just shake their heads. I think it's that their wattles itch, LOL.

 

[AilsVonHelson]

my OEGB pullet does the same thing, no symptoms of anything also, i'm kinda curious to see what it is. My agriculture instructor said it's normal, but i'm not quite sure. :|

 

[amazondoc]

I think all of em do it every once in awhile. I have noticed, though, that a LOT of birds do it at shows....which has made me wonder if stress has something to do with it, or dander in the air, or......

 

[ChooksChick]

Pooh! I was just really noticing this last night with my girls- a lot of head shaking.

I had one laying in my arms trying to sleep and she kept shaking her head suddenly like she had something tickling her. I looked very closely, thinking it may have been fleas or mites or lice, or cooties, but nothing there except pretty, yellow chicken skin. It freaked me out a little.

What other causes can be associated with this?

 

[Solace]

I have one cochin cockrel that goes wild doing a head scratch if I pick him up. Once I put him down it's like he goes wild scratching his head for about a minute. He doesn't have any mites or anything, not sure why he's doing it. I figure he has something neurological going on. He's done it since he came out of the egg.

 

[keeperofthehearth]

I have one cochin cockrel that goes wild doing a head scratch if I pick him up. Once I put him down it's like he goes wild scratching his head for about a minute. He doesn't have any mites or anything, not sure why he's doing it. I figure he has something neurological going on. He's done it since he came out of the egg.

Maybe he thinks he caught cooties fm you!​

 

[Pinky]

I've always wondered why somechickens will shake their head.My rhode island red shakes his head too.I checked for parasites but found nothing.I guess its normal.He shows no signs of any disorders.

 

[Solace]

Quote:

Maybe he thinks he caught cooties fm you!

You may be right. He does do his lil rooster dance towards me when I open the coop when I change water.... Hummm.....

 

[roosmom]

I noticed last nite that he breathes mostly with his beak slightly open. Most of the time. Are these related? Can you see gape worms? If you look in the throat?