The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Ghdp on July 31, 2016, 10:10:19 am

Title: Hen. Head shaking
Post by: Ghdp on July 31, 2016, 10:10:19 am

One of my girls is acting a little odd. Every 30 secs or do she gives a quick shske of her head. She did not fo this before and none of the others do it. Anything I should be checking?

Title: Re: Hen. Head shaking
Post by: macgro7 on July 31, 2016, 12:48:11 pm

Does she move her neck in a funny way as well?
It could be sign on parasites. I would give her dewormer

Title: Re: Hen. Head shaking
Post by: Eve on July 31, 2016, 01:52:41 pm

Have a look for mites or lice in or near her ears.

Title: Re: Hen. Head shaking
Post by: Marches Farmer on July 31, 2016, 05:14:32 pm

Ditto, but gapeworm may be the culprit.  Have you wormed your hens recently?

Title: Re: Hen. Head shaking
Post by: Ghdp on July 31, 2016, 06:15:42 pm

Thanks. I wormed them in April. (I intended to do them again in July but missed the date.) Can start them on flubenvet tomorrow. Cannot see anything obviously wrong.

Title: Re: Hen. Head shaking
Post by: Steph Hen on July 31, 2016, 07:00:12 pm

Gape worm would be my first thought. I had one with it ages ago - and I did worm them, but a thorough reform of just her cleared it up x

Title: Re: Hen. Head shaking
Post by: chrismahon on August 01, 2016, 08:25:50 am

Could be ear mites? A little Frontline spray applied with a cotton bud on the feathers over the ear will cure that. One of our neighbour's chickens had them a few months ago- pretty obvious eventually because a crust of 'gunk' formed around the ear.

Title: Re: Hen. Head shaking
Post by: farmers wife on August 01, 2016, 09:30:10 am

sounds like the start of mycoplasma.  Keep an eye on her eyes and beak.  If there is gasping or noisy breaking start injecting with Tylan 200.

Title: Re: Hen. Head shaking
Post by: Ghdp on August 01, 2016, 09:11:18 pm

No obvious noisy breathing. Have started on flubenvet. Will keep an eye on her. Who sells frontline spray??do I need a vet for that or the local 'Farm and Pet wholesalers' do it??
I felt as if I had to jump through hoops to even get Flubenvet today. Apparently I have to 'click and collect' now!

Title: Re: Hen. Head shaking
Post by: chrismahon on August 03, 2016, 06:59:07 am

Frontline spray can only be issued by a vet. You need the small spray (100mL), not the larger one with the big blue nozzle (250mL). It's not licensed for chickens but is extremely effective. It's the best treatment for Northern Fowl Mite-if you are ever unlucky enough to get them, dosed at one spray (0.5mL) per Kg bodyweight.


Frontline 'spot-on' can be got from the pet shop, but is far too strong for a chicken. I know someone who had the vet use it on her flock of Orpingtons and two died.

Title: Re: Hen. Head shaking
Post by: Ghdp on August 04, 2016, 07:00:10 pm

Thanks. I will get some.

Title: Re: Hen. Head shaking
Post by: Ghdp on August 09, 2016, 03:57:55 pm

Up date
Worming course completed and head shaking stopped. :fc: