Sick rooster, head shaking, one eye cloudy

[susiediver]

one of my roosters is shaking his head, one eye appears kind of cloudy, and he obviously can’t see out of that eye. No obvious breathing problems, but he isn’t running around as usual. I see posts about head shaking and lice, and posts about eye problems and respiratory problems. Any ideas? Do I maybe have 2 problems? I will dust him and get some antibiotics to administer orally.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

A cloudy eye usually means they have lost sight in that eye. Chickens will start doing odd behaviors when their eyesight starts to go, so it's possible the two are related.

Where are you located? Roosters will do a lot of head shaking if they get frostbite. Otherwise a good dusting for mites and lice is a good idea and won't hurt him.

 

[Jinx3726]

Use FOOD GRADE diatomaceous earth to do your dusting. You can buy it on Amazon.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I would use a pyrethrin based poultry dust, DE is a respiratory irritant, and doesn't do much to kill external parasites.