Head shaking and scratching

[Chicken Bocker]

Hi, we stumbled upon a new flock that are less than 1 year old for a great deal (red flag). Last time we bought 1 year old chickens for a good deal we brought Northern red fowl mites to the farm and decimated our flock despite great efforts. Since then we let the coop rest for 1 year 8 months until our most recent flock and finally we are mite free!! Our new flock came to us at 10 months old but only had been eating vegetables over the winter and turned out to have lice. So no eggs for the first 2.5 weeks and we are doing the third treatment of diatom for lice and I couldn't find one lice tonight so thats good. But they are shaking their heads and scratching their necks!! Ive searched every bird high and low for mites and can't find one. Ears look clean, breathing is clear, no runny nose. Some do have dirty vents tho which leads me to think they have worms, but as I said the breath quietly so is gapeworm out of the question? I really stumped here. I appreciate any input.
Thanks

 

[Eggcessive]

Look for lice or lice eggs around and under the vent. DE is not the best for treating lice. You need a permethrin product, dust or the liquid spray. Those need to be treated once every 10 days until gone. The coop also need to be treated, and all bedding replaced. Hopefully, it isn’t lice, but I have had good luck with Martins or Gordons permethrin 10 concentrate, that is mixed with water in a spray bottle, and is affordable in small bottles.

 

[SilkiesnFrizzle]

Exactly what she said.

 

[Chicken Bocker]

Look for lice or lice eggs around and under the vent. DE is not the best for treating lice. You need a permethrin product, dust or the liquid spray. Those need to be treated once every 10 days until gone. The coop also need to be treated, and all bedding replaced. Hopefully, it isn’t lice, but I have had good luck with Martins or Gordons permethrin 10 concentrate, that is mixed with water in a spray bottle, and is affordable in small bottles.

Thanks for your input. Are you referring to mites? We have treated lice with DE before with luck and as I said I have really knocked them down as I can't find any around vent or anywhere else now. Would lice make them head shake and scratch necks?

 

[Dchintella]

Hi, we stumbled upon a new flock that are less than 1 year old for a great deal (red flag). Last time we bought 1 year old chickens for a good deal we brought Northern red fowl mites to the farm and decimated our flock despite great efforts. Since then we let the coop rest for 1 year 8 months until our most recent flock and finally we are mite free!! Our new flock came to us at 10 months old but only had been eating vegetables over the winter and turned out to have lice. So no eggs for the first 2.5 weeks and we are doing the third treatment of diatom for lice and I couldn't find one lice tonight so thats good. But they are shaking their heads and scratching their necks!! Ive searched every bird high and low for mites and can't find one. Ears look clean, breathing is clear, no runny nose. Some do have dirty vents tho which leads me to think they have worms, but as I said the breath quietly so is gapeworm out of the question? I really stumped here. I appreciate any input.
Thanks

Hi! Did you ever figure this out? Mine are doing it too! We did have a lice problem but it seems to have rectified but they started doing the same thing you described!