hen shaking head constantly

[forester7]

One of my 8 month old laying hens has been shaking its head almost constantly the last few days. Could it be a simple cold, mites, lice (it is also digging at itself some), or other minor illness? Should i cull this hen right away and not take any chances with the rest of them? They are in new barn, but the first 8 hens I brought in from a heritage chicken farmer got really sick (sneezing, swollen shut eyes) and following a vet's suggestion, I had killed them all off, disinfected the pens with a bleach/water mixer and left it vacant for 7 weeks. I would assume no disease would still be around. I then got my new hens from my father who has never had a major problem in 35 years of raising them. So I am left worrying if this is the start of another big outbreak, or an isolated case of an un healthy hen. I do have to get a dust bath as it is winter here and my hens are inside all the time. Any thoughts/advice?

 

[azygous]

Before you do anything else, look in her ears. You may find foreign matter such as a sliver of grass or straw. If you see nothing, then try a drop of mineral oil in each ear. Chickens occasionally get itchy ear, too.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Does your hen happen to have frostbite? They will shake their head due to frostbite on the comb.

 

[forester7]

I will try the mineral oil. It very likely could have gotten frostbite over Christmas when It was still at my father's coop, but my barn where it has been for over a month now has cattle and never drops below freezing.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

I will try the mineral oil. It very likely could have gotten frostbite over Christmas when It was still at my father's coop, but my barn where it has been for over a month now has cattle and never drops below freezing.

You should see it on the comb. Can you post a pic of the hen?

 

[forester7]

I have included a picture of the chicken here. I got a great shot of the nictitating membrane in the eye too! It doesn't show up great in the picture, but the comb is discolored along the top, so it probably was frostbitten at some point, but it would have been 7 or more weeks ago, as it has not been in temps below freezing since then. I put mineral oil in the ears too. As long as it is not another contagious incurable disease, I will be happy!

 

[azygous]

Has the oil in the ears stopped the head shaking?

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Looks like a dry comb, but I don't see any frostbite currently.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Could it be a simple cold, mites, lice (it is also digging at itself some), or other minor illness?

Great picture of the nictitating membrane!

I see a little dry comb as @Soon2BChixMom mentioned. You can put a little coconut oil or even some athlete's foot cream on it.

In your post you say = she is also digging at herself. Where/how is she doing this? Check her really well for lice and mites. Did you see anything in her ears when you applied the mineral oil?

 

[forester7]

No change in the hen yet tonight. I dug around at the base of the feathers some and did not see any signs of little critters. I did notice a few black spots on the base of the comb that look like they might be places where a little blood came out and dried. I wonder if that is because of the dry-looking comb? I did notice the hens trying to pick at it occasionally as it walks by. Otherwise, it seems to be eating fine and digging around a bit.