My chicks keep shaking their heads. Is this normal?

[gumpsgirl]

My 3 wk. old chicks keep shaking their heads, like something keeps bothering them. Is this normal or is there a problem with them that I need to address?

 

[Stormhorse23]

Mine did (and still do that) because they have AE

 

[gumpsgirl]

Quote:
Sorry to sound stupid, but what is AE? Thanks!

 

[kbarrett]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=39749


Here is a link to recent problems some have been having with sick chicks this spring. There were several threads posted and some that had their chicks neocropsied posted the results confirmed as being positive for AE.

 

[silkiechicken]

What kind of head shaking, is it a nervous type, or is it in response to a sound? I know some of my chicks will shake like they have something in their ears if you hum loudly at them. Is there a computer near by? Could the sounds of the HD or monitor be disturbing them? Like those really annoying high pitched sounds that come from them that a lot of older people can't hear, but drives undamaged youth ears insane.

 

[gumpsgirl]

Quote:
I get what your saying! The computers are on opposite ends of the house (I mostly just use the laptop anyways) and they don't constantly shake their heads. Maybe it's when I am being to loud around them??? I went in and feed them this morning and nobody was shaking their heads. They are just doing it sometimes, like something is bothering them. Maybe it is a sound. I just wanted to be sure!

Thanks for the advice and I will try to quick panicking over my babies all of the time!!!

 

[dlhunicorn]

Are you using shavings or papertwoels? shavings are in my opinion too dusty for chickies sensitive airways and not only that but they can ingest them which will cause all kinds of potential problems.

 

[gumpsgirl]

Quote:
I am using pine shavings. My dad told me to use newspaper when I first got them, so I did that for the first week. Then I found out that was bad on their little legs, so we went to shavings because that is what everyone else says to do. Now I'm finding out that shavings are wrong??? I can't use paper towels, because they will just shred them up and get them all over in the water. We had that problem with the newspaper too! What am I supposed to use then?

Thanks!

 

[thornberryvillage]

I'd say stick with pine shavings.

I get 50 laying chicks a year, plus 25 meat chicks a week for 8 months a year, and all I use in the brooders is pine shavings...never a problem.

Bob