Head twitching caused by severe cold?

[GretchenM]

I realize head twitching can be caused by several things, but could extreme cold be one? We're in the Texas vortex horror show right now. Outside temps are in the 20s now, but have been below 20 for about 48 hours before this afternoon, down to almost zero the last two nites. (I realize this isn't extreme for some of you, but it is for us and our hens, so their coop isn't built for it.) We have 2 heaters in the coop with our 33 hens, but the coop is well ventilated. They seem fine otherwise (except the Barred Rocks seem cold -- fluffy, etc.), they're eating & drinking, moving around, etc., but half of them are twitching their heads like they have a tic. TIA!!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I guess anything is possible but I've never seen it. I have over 50 chickens in 3 buildings. It has been close to zero to a couple degrees below F. I've had a lot of chickens down to 19 below 0 F and never experienced tics.
People with chickens in Minnesota, Canada, Alaska with much colder conditions never mention it either.
I'd get ready to send a bird for a necropsy should one die.
Here are your labs.

Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (Main)
483 Agronomy Road
College Station, Texas 77843-4471
Phone: 979-845-3414

Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory - Center (Branch)
635 Malone Dr
Center, Texas 75935-3530 P
phone: 936-598-4451

Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory – Gonzales (Branch)
1162 East Sarah DeWitt Drive
Gonzales, Texas 78629
Phone: 830-672-2834

Texas Animal Health Commission State-Federal Laboratory
8200 Cameron Road, Suite A186
Austin, Texas 78754-3832
Phone: 512-832-6580

 

[GretchenM]

I guess anything is possible but I've never seen it. I have over 50 chickens in 3 buildings. It has been close to zero to a couple degrees below F. I've had a lot of chickens down to 19 below 0 F and never experienced tics.
People with chickens in Minnesota, Canada, Alaska with much colder conditions never mention it either.
I'd get ready to send a bird for a necropsy should one die.
Here are your labs.

Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (Main)
483 Agronomy Road
College Station, Texas 77843-4471
Phone: 979-845-3414

Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory - Center (Branch)
635 Malone Dr
Center, Texas 75935-3530 P
phone: 936-598-4451

Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory – Gonzales (Branch)
1162 East Sarah DeWitt Drive
Gonzales, Texas 78629
Phone: 830-672-2834

Texas Animal Health Commission State-Federal Laboratory
8200 Cameron Road, Suite A186
Austin, Texas 78754-3832
Phone: 512-832-6580

Thank you, tho I hate to hear that! They're not showing other signs of respiratory problems, but would that be the best guess?? Obviously not mites in this weather.

 

[ChicNmom]

I would add some electrolytes to their water for a little boost. Did you do a crop check on the twitchy ones to make sure they are eating enough? Sometimes they can fool you. Even in New Hampshire mine don't like a sudden extreme temp change. Do you have a thermometer in the coop to see what the temps are with the heat? You also don't want it too warm or hot near their heads.

 

[Myrshine]

Could be caused by a vitamin deficiency