Head shaking and not eating

[LindaNL]

You guys already helped me a lot in the past, so I'm going to ask an other question!

It's about my 6yr old hen:
- 3 years ago she started shaking her head and got clogged nostrils. I asked the vet and he said to de-worm her, get rid of lice and start tylan50 cure. Did not work.
- She eventually stopped shaking her head that much, but kept having clogged nostrils.
- Tuesday: finally (!!!after 3 years) the nostrils were empty, the nostril was a huge open gap. She started to shake her head about every second, and stamped on the floor with her leg.
- Wednesday: She hid inside de coop a lot, barely ate. In the evening I started to treat everyone for lice and started deworming.
- Thrusday: She is very slow (even slower than before, she has always been slow) and didn't eat much at all. I checked her ears and mouth but they seem fine to me. Her crop is empty.

I hate to see her in so much discomfort, and am ready to call the vet to euthanize her. But maybe you guys have an idea? Maybe there is still hope?

Thanks a lot!

I made a video of Dolly:

 

[Wyorp Rock]

You mention that you started treating for mites, what are you using and does she have an active infestation of external parasites?

I would also provide her with some poultry vitamins that contain E and B1. Look again in the ears for any discharge, debris or ear mites.

 

[LindaNL]

Thank you for your reply.
She died on the way to the vet (think she went into shock, and died because of that )

I checked her when she died.
- There were no lice at all on her body, but there were lots of very tiny eggs (looked like sand) on her feathers by her butt.
- Her ears were clean, her beak looked good.
- I saw a little bit of yellow in her nostril.

I'm treating the chickens with poultry dust, and sprayed the coop. I also put some vaseline on their feet (because I noticed that they were 'eating' someting off their feet, but I don't see anything!).

Could it be that they have very tiny lice of mites on their body, that I can't see??

 

[LindaNL]

Okay, I've read: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/mites-lice-treatment-and-prevention.64597/

So they can have lice and mites without us seeing them, and the poultry dust is not a treatment. I think Dolly was weak and the lice and mites took advantage of that. I will need to spray their coop and all their small coops, and spray the chickens as well. And continue with the vaseline on their feet

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry for your loss

Yes, scaly leg mites you cannot see those, but the evidence of their presence is by looking at the scales of the legs. Vaseline will smother them. Here's more info: http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/scaly-leg-mites-in-chickens/