Rooster Shaking Head

[GtToe]

My rooster has been drinking, eating, pooping and been behaving fine aside from shaking his head strangely. I noticed that he does it on the beam when I check on him at night a few nights ago and it has continued. Any idea what this could be? I cannot attach a video but it doesn’t look like he is in destress but I have never seen him act like this. Thanks!

 

[LaFleche]

It might even be the mosquitoes or flies in the coop that begin to attack when the chickens come in to roost at night.

 

[LaFleche]

Thanks. George was a cockerel-turning-rooster at the time and it went on for a couple of months. I didn't see sneezing, coughing or anything respiratory going on. He'd snap his neck and head vigorously from left to right like a snake. He was the only bird in the flock that did this so I don't suspect mosquitoes. He didn't scratch so I didn't think mites. He did it any time of day. He's a BJG. It didn't appear to be communicative. I actually wondered if it was neurological, perhaps from a blow to the head from the alpha rooster, which we no longer have. But it has since resolved.

He might have had some problems adjusting his crop which can lead to the headshaking and snakelike movements of the neck and head.

 

[LaFleche]

Ok thank you, they said he has always done this! I'm not too used to handling roosters but I will do my best to check these things first thing tomorrow

Health checks and treatments are best done at night as you can just grab the bird from the roost without having to chase it. Wearing a head lamp will make it easier leaving both hands free to hold the bird

 

[LaurasNew]

His movements don't have anything to do with crop adjustment.

In your short film he appears to be walking a bit unstable.

I would check him for lice or mites and inspect his ears for inflammation, crusts or maybe some dirt or grass seeds.
Also check the inside of his beak and down to his throat for anythink stuck, lesions or whitish/yellowish masses.

While he is in quarantine you can deworm him and also treat for external parasites.
Adding some poultry vitamin supplement to his drinking water would help him to adjust.

Update: I checked him for luce and mites, nothing, after a few videos O found hos ears and checked both, both were clear. I looked into his mouth and it was clear from what I could see. He was eating, drinking and pooping normally. I called my vet and also a breeder

Health checks and treatments are best done at night as you can just grab the bird from the roost without having to chase it. Wearing a head lamp will make it easier leaving both hands free to hold the bird

Update: I found how to check his ears by having a good look at my friendliest hen first and she was, as always, brilliant. His ears were both clear, no scabs, mites or lice anywhere. He was very healthy to hold, crop felt firm but not rock hard. I contacted a chicken breeder I know and the vet and sent the video. As this was going on since the owner could remember and with no other reason making sense, it seems either a birth defect or unseen head injury. The seller took him back. I would have liked to help him but I only have 5 hens who are complete pets and he was sadly beyond help

 

[LaFleche]

I contacted a chicken breeder I know and the vet and sent the video. As this was going on since the owner could remember and with no other reason making sense, it seems either a birth defect or unseen head injury. The seller took him back

Good call.
The seller should not have sold him in the first place knowing about his long standing issue.

 

[LaurasNew]

Good call.
The seller should not have sold him in the first place knowing about his long standing issue.

Thanks for the advice all the same and I'm glad to now feel confident to check their ears, especially if I ever see head shaking in the future.

 

[Ebony Rose]

Is this a cockerel, young rooster or a mature rooster? I've had cockerels and young roosters do this regularly, particularly close to the time that they crow, as if it's a hormonal overload thing. My older roosters tend to fall out of the habit.
An ear or respiratory infection can also cause a shaking of the head; typically can rule out disease with a careful wellness check.

 

[Eggcessive]

I think most chickens shake or twitch occasionally. Something irritating, such as mucus in the airways from a respiratory infection, mites or lice, or new feathers coming in, might cause head shaking.

 

[Ebony Rose]

I've only witnessed this with cockerels as they come into adulthood or soon after becoming adults, so assumed it was a 'testosterone overload' thing.