Examining Chickens For Illnesses

[Let There Be Light]

I've never dealt with chicken diseases, but I know that I'm bound to sometime in the future. I don't see any obvious illnesses in my flock right now, but what do I look for when checking for illnesses? What are some early signs?

 

[DobieLover]

but what do I look for when checking for illnesses?

Withdrawal from the flock.
Fluffed up feathers with head pulled in and when really bad, eyes closed.
Pale comb not associated with molting
Crop not emptying overnight.
Penguin stance.
Bad poops (this is easy to do when you have poop boards).
Eyes/nares not clear.
Eye/facial swelling.

What are some early signs?

Weight loss.

 

[Let There Be Light]

Withdrawal from the flock.
Fluffed up feathers with head pulled in and when really bad, eyes closed.
Pale comb not associated with molting
Crop not emptying overnight.
Penguin stance.
Bad poops (this is easy to do when you have poop boards).
Eyes/nares not clear.
Eye/facial swelling.

Weight loss.

Thanks! I've seen a lot of different types of poops but I'm not sure what to look for, lol. Other than bloody poop, obviously, what should I look for? I do have some new adult chickens in a "see no touch" phase in a smaller coop and I've noticed that their poop smells different than my other chicken's poop. ( I can't help laughing!)

 

[DobieLover]

Thanks! I've seen a lot of different types of poops but I'm not sure what to look for, lol. Other than bloody poop, obviously, what should I look for? I do have some new adult chickens in a "see no touch" phase in a smaller coop and I've noticed that their poop smells different than my other chicken's poop. ( I can't help laughing!)

Excessively runny to the point it's soiling their fluff.
Very smelly and soiling their fluff.
Bright green and not much of it.
Eggy yellow.

 

[Let There Be Light]

Excessively runny to the point it's soiling their fluff.
Very smelly and soiling their fluff.
Bright green and not much of it.
Eggy yellow.

Pictures?

 

[Let There Be Light]

Pictures?

Haha, just kidding!

 

[aart]

Pictures?

Good visual references for all kinds of poops,
just don't jump to any terrible conclusions too quickly:
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/02/whats-scoop-on-chicken-poop-digestive.html
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/?topic=17568.0

 

[Let There Be Light]

Good visual references for all kinds of poops,
just don't jump to any terrible conclusions too quickly:
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/02/whats-scoop-on-chicken-poop-digestive.html
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/?topic=17568.0

Haha, thanks!

 

[aart]

You also want to regularly check for bugs.
Google images of lice/mites and their eggs before the inspection so you'll know what you're looking for.

Part the feathers right down to the skin around vent, head/neck and under wings.

Best done well after dark with a strong flashlight/headlight, easier to 'catch' bird and also to check for the mites that live in structure and only come out at night to feed off roosting birds.

Wipe a white paper towel along the underside of roost to look for red smears(smashed well fed mites).

Good post about mite ID by Lady McCamley:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-chicken-has-mites-now-what.1273674/page-2#post-20483008