Chicken Health = Healthy Eggs?

[txchickies4]

This may be a stupid question but does anyone have their chickens checked by a vet before they eat their eggs? Our chickens haven’t started laying yet, but how are we suppose to know if they are going to be good to eat? The hens all seem fine and growing. They sometimes have yellowish poop and then other days don’t. And at what point do you even have a vet checkup for chickens?
Thanks in advance!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I always just assume my chickens are healthy (and so are their eggs) by default unless there's evidence to the contrary. Same as with people actually. I mean I assume I'm healthy unless there's reason to think otherwise. Ya know? If my chickens are acting fine and normal, eating, drinking, preening, scratching, dust-bathing and pooping, I assume all is well.

 

[TooCheep]

It isn't a stupid question. It is a newbie question. New chicken owners, much like first-time parents are worried about absolutely everything. Experienced owners/parents have a much better idea of what to expect and what problems are serious.

If your chickens appear healthy, active, acting normally and their poo looks okay then they are fine. Poo does vary (color, wateriness, etc) from instance to instance, exactly as ours does. If you are concerned about their poo, feel free to post pictures in the Emergencies / Diseases / Injuries and Cures forum for evaluation.

If/when you ever do have problems, I recommend you search on BYC and/or post a request for help in that same forum. The vast majority of issues can be self-diagnosed and treated without paying for an expensive vet visit.

PS- Even without knowing *anything* else about your chickens, they will almost certainly produce superior quality eggs than you commonly buy in stores just based on the fact that they have access to open grass.

 

[Sally PB]

https://the-chicken-chick.com/whats-scoop-on-chicken-poop-digestive/
This is a great resource for "is this poop normal."

 

[txchickies4]

I always just assume my chickens are healthy (and so are their eggs) by default unless there's evidence to the contrary. Same as with people actually. I mean I assume I'm healthy unless there's reason to think otherwise. Ya know? If my chickens are acting fine and normal, eating, drinking, preening, scratching, dust-bathing and pooping, I assume all is well.

Thank you

 

[txchickies4]

It isn't a stupid question. It is a newbie question. New chicken owners, much like first-time parents are worried about absolutely everything. Experienced owners/parents have a much better idea of what to expect and what problems are serious.

If your chickens appear healthy, active, acting normally and their poo looks okay then they are fine. Poo does vary (color, wateriness, etc) from instance to instance, exactly as ours does. If you are concerned about their poo, feel free to post pictures in the Emergencies / Diseases / Injuries and Cures forum for evaluation.

If/when you ever do have problems, I recommend you search on BYC and/or post a request for help in that same forum. The vast majority of issues can be self-diagnosed and treated without paying for an expensive vet visit.

PS- Even without knowing *anything* else about your chickens, they will almost certainly produce superior quality eggs than you commonly buy in stores just based on the fact that they have access to open grass.

Thank you

 

[txchickies4]

https://the-chicken-chick.com/whats-scoop-on-chicken-poop-digestive/
This is a great resource for "is this poop normal."

Thank you

 

[TLynne1]

It isn't a stupid question. It is a newbie question. New chicken owners, much like first-time parents are worried about absolutely everything. Experienced owners/parents have a much better idea of what to expect and what problems are serious.

If your chickens appear healthy, active, acting normally and their poo looks okay then they are fine. Poo does vary (color, wateriness, etc) from instance to instance, exactly as ours does. If you are concerned about their poo, feel free to post pictures in the Emergencies / Diseases / Injuries and Cures forum for evaluation.

If/when you ever do have problems, I recommend you search on BYC and/or post a request for help in that same forum. The vast majority of issues can be self-diagnosed and treated without paying for an expensive vet visit.

PS- Even without knowing *anything* else about your chickens, they will almost certainly produce superior quality eggs than you commonly buy in stores just based on the fact that they have access to open grass.

Interesting, mine don't have access to grass. How much does that matter to the "health" of the eggs?

 

[FrostRanger]

Many of us don't even have a local vet who will see poultry. I agree with the above assume they're healthy until you have reason to think they aren't

Interesting, mine don't have access to grass. How much does that matter to the "health" of the eggs?

Birds that free range will have better quality eggs but honestly even if you don't free range your eggs will still be better than the eggs you get from the store as they have a better diet overall

 

[FrostRanger]

Also should be noted that most common chicken illnesses and ailments don't affect your ability to eat the eggs