These signs do not require special task or skill, what you need to do and know is to, is well observant about the reaction and conditions of flock, birds as individual. It is very important to learn how to identify a healthy chicken.
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This is especially true if you keep chicken or you want to buy some. Leaning what to look out for could help you know if any of your birds is sick and help you provide treatment before it's too late.
Alternatively, you can avoid wasting money
buying a sick bird only for it to die soon afterwards. While some people are
experts at identifying signs of sickness in chicken, most have to learn the
technique.
In any case, it is better to regularly examine each individual bird for signs of health condition. A physical examination is the best way to find out how healthy your birds or flocks are.
There are some physical signs you should be on the lookout for. To cut the story short, the following are the list of possible signs of healthy flocks of chicken.
In any case, it is better to regularly examine each individual bird for signs of health condition. A physical examination is the best way to find out how healthy your birds or flocks are.
There are some physical signs you should be on the lookout for. To cut the story short, the following are the list of possible signs of healthy flocks of chicken.
1. Comb and wattle
2. Alertness
3. Position of head when not
disturbed
4. The color of the dropping
5. Shiny feathers
6. Condition of the feet and toes
7. Wings
8. Nostrils
9. Mouth
10. Eyes
1. Comb and wattle as sign of healthy chickens
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The comb is one of those thing we
as farmers need to check out for, the condition of hen comb and the wattle are
very noticeable sign for healthy birds. They must have a bright color, not dark
or dull color, only bright one are the sign of healthy birds.
A pink comb is normal in hens and simply indicates that the bird is not in lay while a red one indicates she is. If the comb has a bluish color you should take it as a warning that the bird has poor blood circulation and is not in good health.
A comb full of scabs shows that the bird has been in fights. You should take care to assess the temperament of a cock before buying it.
Purchasing a bird which likes to fight will only antagonize and disturb the rest of the flock which is not good for the flock.
A pink comb is normal in hens and simply indicates that the bird is not in lay while a red one indicates she is. If the comb has a bluish color you should take it as a warning that the bird has poor blood circulation and is not in good health.
A comb full of scabs shows that the bird has been in fights. You should take care to assess the temperament of a cock before buying it.
Purchasing a bird which likes to fight will only antagonize and disturb the rest of the flock which is not good for the flock.
2. Alertness as a sign of healthy chickens
Another point is the alertness of
the flock, every bird in the flock must be alert at any time. If at the time you
visit your flock you noticed that one or two are not alert is a sign that they
are not healthy, they should be examine.
Do not joke with this simple sign, do something quickly to identify why they are not in good condition. Aside this, you birds must be active always i.e they must be busy doing one thing or the other, so watch out for their alertness.
Do not joke with this simple sign, do something quickly to identify why they are not in good condition. Aside this, you birds must be active always i.e they must be busy doing one thing or the other, so watch out for their alertness.
3. Position of head when not
disturbed is also a sign of healthy chickens
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Some farmers don’t take note of
this, when a bird sit back and you noticed that its head is tucked in close to
the body, you should know that some went wrong to the bird.
This may not easily be notice when you have many birds in the flock, why? When you enter their house they tent to react but after about ten minute they begin to settle down, this is when you will clearly noticed that their head are tucked in close to the body.
Dare reader this is not s good sign at all, the best position of the head healthy chickens is so simple, it should be free from the body. It should not tucked in close to the body at all irrespective of what happen to the bird, please do take note of this in your farm.
This may not easily be notice when you have many birds in the flock, why? When you enter their house they tent to react but after about ten minute they begin to settle down, this is when you will clearly noticed that their head are tucked in close to the body.
Dare reader this is not s good sign at all, the best position of the head healthy chickens is so simple, it should be free from the body. It should not tucked in close to the body at all irrespective of what happen to the bird, please do take note of this in your farm.
4. The color of the dropping as a sign of healthy chickens
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Dropping color must be well
monitored on daily basis, though not all sickness can be trace to the color of
their droppings. Meanwhile some of the common issues in the farm are easily
identify by merely looking at their droppings.
Now you may ask, what is the color or will their dropping form? This is so simple, just follow this simple illustration you will understand what I am saying.
The color must not be red, deep green. I know you know Lizard, then you have seen their dropping before, yes. Good, what do you notice about their dropping?
You always see whitish that are always attached to it that is hoe the dropping of your birds must look like. Anything aside this, your birds are not in good condition.
Now you may ask, what is the color or will their dropping form? This is so simple, just follow this simple illustration you will understand what I am saying.
The color must not be red, deep green. I know you know Lizard, then you have seen their dropping before, yes. Good, what do you notice about their dropping?
You always see whitish that are always attached to it that is hoe the dropping of your birds must look like. Anything aside this, your birds are not in good condition.
5. Shiny feathers in healthy chickens
Another sign of a healthy
chicken is shiny feathers which have a nice sheen to them. You should examine
each bird for signs of parasites.
The most common ones are lice and these have a habit of hiding between a chicken's feathers. Also take a look at the shanks of the feet. The scales should be smooth. Protruding scales could be a sign that the bird has scaly leg mites.
The feathers under and around the vent should be clean and not messy. Birds which have dirty and scruffy feathers should be examined for any signs of illness.
The most common ones are lice and these have a habit of hiding between a chicken's feathers. Also take a look at the shanks of the feet. The scales should be smooth. Protruding scales could be a sign that the bird has scaly leg mites.
The feathers under and around the vent should be clean and not messy. Birds which have dirty and scruffy feathers should be examined for any signs of illness.
Hens kept with a rooster often have bare
patches on the back and the base of the neck near the back. These patches are
caused by mating and are normal.
You should never see open sores or swelling where the skin is bare. Sometimes feathers are pulled out, particularly tail feathers, when capturing a bird. If the bird appears healthy otherwise and the skin appears smooth and intact, it’s probably fine.
You should never see open sores or swelling where the skin is bare. Sometimes feathers are pulled out, particularly tail feathers, when capturing a bird. If the bird appears healthy otherwise and the skin appears smooth and intact, it’s probably fine.
6. Condition of the feet and toes to identify healthy chickens
The three front toes of poultry
birds should point straight ahead, and the feet should not turn outward. The
hock joints should not touch, and the toes should not point in toward each
other.
Healthy chickens feet should not be webbed, webbing mean the skin connecting the toes, although occasionally webbed feet show up as a genetic defect.
You should not see any swellings on the legs or toes. Check the bottom of the foot for swelling and raw, open areas, when these are well formed your birds are in good condition.
Healthy chickens feet should not be webbed, webbing mean the skin connecting the toes, although occasionally webbed feet show up as a genetic defect.
You should not see any swellings on the legs or toes. Check the bottom of the foot for swelling and raw, open areas, when these are well formed your birds are in good condition.
7. Wings as a sign of healthy chickens
The wings of poultry birds should
be carried close to the body in most breeds and in most case. A few breeds have
wings that point downward.
The wings should not droop or look twisted. Sometimes droopy wings are a sign of illness in the birds. A damaged wing that healed wrong will not affect the laying or breeding ability of the birds.
However, some birds are hatched with bad wings, which is usually the result of a genetic problem.
The wings should not droop or look twisted. Sometimes droopy wings are a sign of illness in the birds. A damaged wing that healed wrong will not affect the laying or breeding ability of the birds.
However, some birds are hatched with bad wings, which is usually the result of a genetic problem.
8. Nostrils condition as a sign of healthy chickens
Both nostrils should be clear and
open, with no discharge from the nostrils. In case of any discharge from the
nostril is a sign of respiratory disorder and must be managed on time, if not
this may result to something else in the farm.
So what I am saying is that, their nostril should be free all the time, you will be wonder how do I know that the nostril are not free. Simple, they find it so difficult to breath.
So what I am saying is that, their nostril should be free all the time, you will be wonder how do I know that the nostril are not free. Simple, they find it so difficult to breath.
9. Mouth condition a sign of healthy chickens
This is like other animals,
poultry birds should breathe with the mouth closed, except in very hot
conditions.
Even in cool weather condition the bird breathe with its mouth closed, though when you noticed that they breath with mouth, it is a sign of illness or sickness in the flock. So the best way to breath is the mouth closed.
Even in cool weather condition the bird breathe with its mouth closed, though when you noticed that they breath with mouth, it is a sign of illness or sickness in the flock. So the best way to breath is the mouth closed.
10. Healthy chickens can be identify through eyes
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While examining the poultry
birds, examining the eyes to ensure they are bright and clear. Any discharge or
bubbles around the eyes is a sign of illness.
When a chicken is alert and active, its eyelids should not be showing. You should not see any discharge or swelling around the eyes.
When a chicken is alert and active, its eyelids should not be showing. You should not see any discharge or swelling around the eyes.
Conclusion
Finally, if when your birds are
examining and you noticed that they have the qualities listed above, I am
telling you, your birds are in good condition.
You don’t have anything to worry about, but if other wise, please do inform your veterinary doctor for proper attention.
You don’t have anything to worry about, but if other wise, please do inform your veterinary doctor for proper attention.
Do not hesitate to drop your
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