How do you all “examine” your chickens? Just wondering

[aingeaven]

Hi! I’m relatively new to chickens, so I want to know how y’all examine your chickens for diseases. Whenever I’m out there, I pick them up to look at their faces (for any snot or nastiness in eyes or mouth), I look at their feet, and I feel their breastbone. Is there anything y’all do in addition to that? I know people mention a “crop” which could be important.

 

[PioneerChicks]

You do a great health check! I mostly check the eyes and nostrils, feet, and do a quick external parasites check (under the wings and the vent). If I remember right, the crop should be empty and loose in the morning but tight and full in the evening.

 

[chknlittle17]

I make it a point to pick up each chicken at least twice a week and check over their bodies for injuries, bugs, etc. I observe each one daily for behavior changes and interact with them as often as possible.

 

[Allthefloofs]

I do what you do as well as a crop check and checking a few spots for bugs (neck near ears and under wings). I only do the crop check because our vet showed us how to and I weight our girls once per month and like the nerdy biologist I am I have a running spreadsheet .

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I watch and see if anyone looks off. I also do head counts every night and get a closer look then to really make sure no one looks bad.

 

[333113]

Besides checking the vent area for poopiness or mites, I also look at their toenails (too long? covered in mud?), legs for scaly mites (leg scales should be smooth against leg, bumpiness or scales sticking out need attention), bumblefoot (black areas or scabs on bottoms of feet), mites on head or neck, black or white spots on comb or wattles, whether the chicken feels bony or too plump (feed adjustment), and whether they are walking normally (or limping), or breathing is okay (or raspy or labored).

I know it sounds like a lot, but if you are in the habit of looking at your chickens for a while daily, you will see any or all of these things, and a lot more. Chickens by nature are like cats, hiding their illnesses and weaknesses, but when you look at them daily, you will probably immediately recognize that they are "off,' as JacinLarkwell said, above.