Bed time checks?

[CKfarm22]

Does anyone do bedtime or morning time checks on their chickens? And i mean taking them off the roost and very carefully inspecting them? For mites or anything? Just curious

 

[PippinTheChicken]

I don't pick them up or anything in the night, I check to make sure everyone's inside and if the broodies have all their chicks. I check them in the morning for mites and stuff

 

[rosemarythyme]

Bedtime checks work well if you have birds that are difficult to manage or just not overly people friendly.

Otherwise, I prefer to just nab a few "volunteer" birds during the day to check for parasites (obviously choosing birds that are more tolerant of handling).

 

[CKfarm22]

Bedtime checks work well if you have birds that are difficult to manage or just not overly people friendly.

Otherwise, I prefer to just nab a few "volunteer" birds during the day to check for parasites (obviously choosing birds that are more tolerant of handling).

What should i look for when doing this? Obviously mites but what else?

 

[rosemarythyme]

What should i look for when doing this? Obviously mites but what else?

Just watching them walk around and eating during the day should give you a good general idea as to their health. For close up checks, I look at feet for bumblefoot, condition of scales on legs, vent area for soiling, parasites or parasite eggs, face for beak condition (as I have a few birds that get beak maintenance).

If birds are molting I'd skip any physical-contact checks until they feather back in.

 

[Isadora]

I only check my birds if I notice a problem.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

^ same.

I do role call with my ranging birds too though. I touch each one when counting. If they don't make a grumble of irritation, I check closer on them

 

[Isadora]

^ same.

I do role call with my ranging birds too though. I touch each one when counting. If they don't make a grumble of irritation, I check closer on them

A grumble of irritation

 

[JacinLarkwell]

A grumble of irritation

My birds are entitled little brats. They'd rather I never touched or looked at them, lamenting the whole "we're not worthy" spheil.

 

[Alaskan]

Just watching them walk around and eating during the day should give you a good general idea as to their health. For close up checks, I look at feet for bumblefoot, condition of scales on legs, vent area for soiling, parasites or parasite eggs, face for beak condition (as I have a few birds that get beak maintenance).

If birds are molting I'd skip any physical-contact checks until they feather back in.

X2, and I also check their keel to see if they are in good flesh.