Few symptoms. Just being cautious.

[crait]

I have two young chickens. Both of them are healthy looking and their cage seems pretty clean.
However, a few days ago, I found that a rat/mouse was digging under their cage to get their food or water. They haven't been physically hurt, but since I've noticed the rat/mouse holes, I've noticed that they shake and scratch their heads a whole lot more than they usually do.
I think this may be from the rat/mouse getting the coop and water filthy with gross germs.
At first I thought they'd be fine and maybe today they just decided to be a little bit more weird than normal and didn't think much of it. A few days later it's seemed like it's gotten worse. These, luckily, are the only visible clues that my chicken may be sick.

My questions are....
If I move the cage and clean it up and wash the food/water despencers and make the coop rat/mouse proof, do you think they'd be okay and get better?
and...
What do you think this is? I know that these are symptons for a lot of things, but I think there is some connection to the mouse/rat.

 

[MsBentleyboy]

It's fairly common to see chickens scratch their heads. They may have fleas, mites or other pests bugging them. There are all natural products available to help prevent these pests. Murray McMurray Hatchery sells something.

If they are shaking their heads though, look for fluid that's coming out of their nose or listen for coughing or sneezing. That could be something totally different. If that's the case you might have to treat them with an antibiotic or something.

 

[d.k]

*There is something mice and rats can pass when they foul chicken feed with urine/rodent poo. I just blanked out and can't remember the specifics. Sorry. Somebody will fill it in for you, I'm sure.

 

[d.k]

*There is something mice and rats can pass when they foul chicken feed with urine/rodent poo. I just blanked out and can't remember the specifics. Sorry. Somebody will fill it in for you, I'm sure.

 

[crait]

d.k :

*There is something mice and rats can pass when they foul chicken feed with urine/rodent poo. I just blanked out and can't remember the specifics. Sorry. Somebody will fill it in for you, I'm sure.

Wow, I never thought of that.
That is probably it.

@MsBentleyboy: I know how common it is for chickens to do that. I don't think lice/mites are the problem though because of the shaking. I also haven't observed any breathing problems (sneezing, coughing, etc.) or fluids, thankfully.​

 

[sammi]

I'd do whatever I could to keep the rodents out..and get rid of them.
if you can move the birds temporarily to a safer place, that would be good..

traps are probably the best way to go..
poisons are risky.

what all are you feeding the chickens?
how old are they?
are you giving vitamins?
try and get some Poly-vi-sol liquid baby vitamins, Enfamil brand, no iron..2-3 drops on beak once a day for a week or so, then taper off for a week...
in the meantime, get some poultry or chick vitamins..
sometimes neurological problems can be caused by deficiencies of B vitamins..which the Poly-vi-sol has.

bleach the feeders and waterer..
might be a good idea to replace the bedding after you get rids of the rodents..

be prepared to treat for infection with Pen-G procaine, or some other broad spectrum antibiotic in case they have picked up something from the rodents.

rodents are carriers of mites and lice..
might be best to treat for that..