Checking frequency for sick or injured chickens

[Jasfarm]

I’m curious to see where other chicken tenders stand on checking on your feathered friends when they are sick or injured.

Do you check every hour? A few times a day? Does it depend on the illness? Do you have a “if x then y” type system?

 

[kattabelly]

I don't live with them, so every hour would be unlikely unless it was a very young incubator hatched chick. I might bring an older chicken home if it was really sick or badly injured but I also thought it stood a good chance of recovering with the right care, but that's not something I'd do in most situations.

Otherwise it would depend on what was wrong, what I expected to happen (are they likely to get worse, or need more help than I'd initially thought?) and how often any treatment was needed.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I think "as often as needed" and "depends" kinda mean the same thing. When I had an injured hen, I checked on her quite frequently at first. As she healed, I checked less often.

 

[SkyAJK]

My sick chicken is isolated in a dog carrying box and settled in my kitchen, this way I can just see her behaviour/eat/drink/poop so I check on her all the time.

Once she is out of danger, no need to check on her eating/drinking/pooping, then I put her back with the flock and check on her a few times a day see how she behaves, walk, posture.

 

[Jasfarm]

I don't live with them, so every hour would be unlikely unless it was a very young incubator hatched chick. I might bring an older chicken home if it was really sick or badly injured but I also thought it stood a good chance of recovering with the right care, but that's not something I'd do in most situations.

Otherwise it would depend on what was wrong, what I expected to happen (are they likely to get worse, or need more help than I'd initially thought?) and how often any treatment was needed.

That makes sense!

I have a problem with possibly over checking, so I was curious to see what others did.

 

[Jasfarm]

My sick chicken is isolated in a dog carrying box and settled in my kitchen, this way I can just see her behaviour/eat/drink/poop so I check on her all the time.

Once she is out of danger, no need to check on her eating/drinking/pooping, then I put her back with the flock and check on her a few times a day see how she behaves, walk, posture.

This sounds like what I do. But I also have cameras that I sometimes over check!

 

[Jasfarm]

I think "as often as needed" and "depends" kinda mean the same thing. When I had an injured hen, I checked on her quite frequently at first. As she healed, I checked less often.

Makes sense!

I feel like I over checking on EYP or internal issues, but I gash on the wing? They are good to go! Thank you for sharing

 

[Mrs. K]

Really, I don't have sick chickens. And if they are injured, it is often to the death with coons.

 

[kattabelly]

Really, I don't have sick chickens. And if they are injured, it is often to the death with coons.

My answer was largely hypothetical too, tbh. Had a pullet who somehow broke a couple of toes recently but mostly they don't get ill or injured in a way that needs anything doing.

Feeding the odd incubator chick that hatched a bit early, without absorbing all its yolk, is the only thing I do often enough to be more than a one-off - and even that doesn't happen too often.