What do you look for when buying a chicken? So many people go out and bring home the quiet one because they feel sorry for it and then bring disease back into their chicken pen.
You need to know what to avoid.
Some birds look obviously sick and others don't.
You still need to be able to spot a problem even if the bird isn't giving it away easily.
It's also helpful to be able to observe the early signs of illness in your own chickens at home so you can treat early rather than try too little too late.
You need to observe the chickens when they are relaxed and not aware of you watching them.
If you go up to the cage you need to wait awhile until they settle and go back to their normal behaviour.
A bird stressed by handling or by a changed environment may not show symptoms of illness because their natural instinct is to avoid a predator and they put on a good show so they don't look weak and become a target.
Obvious symptoms can be seen around the head.
A pale face and wattles is a poor sign.
If the comb is drooping when it shouldn't, if the wattles are dark red, the eyes dull, if there is a discharge from the nostrils, scabs anywhere, sniffing, head shaking or flicking, any gasping or sunken posture - the chicken is sick.
When you are watching, if you notice any birds that stand alone and are fluffed up and hunched, they are likely to be sick.
If a bird appears to be sleeping a lot, that is a negative sign.
Sometimes a sick bird will stand on one leg and perhaps pant, gasp or gape.
You can observe the bird walking or moving around and get a lot from the way it behaves.
If it limps, is lop-sided or looks slow or wrong in anyway, that's a sign that something may be wrong.
You should handle any bird before you buy it.
Run your hands over it body and feel its condition.
Calm the bird and assess it.
If it's bony thin, or under conditioned it's not a good purchase.
Some younger birds are slender but if the breastbone is sharp and thin, it is not doing well and should be avoided.
Check it for lice.
Look on the skin under the feathers.
Look around the vent, under the wings and on the belly.
Also check around the vent for signs of diarrhea.
If the bird smells bad, there may be something wrong.
Check inside the chickens beak for scabs, plaques or any abnormalities.
The beak should be nice and straight, the ears should be clean.
Your potential purchase should be upright, energetic, well covered with flesh, have bright eyes, be free of obvious parasites and have healthy feathering.
If you do decide that the bird you are look at is in good health and you purchase it, you should always quarantine.
Keep that bird separated from your flock in a place where you can worm it and observe it for a number of weeks.
Some say two weeks but four weeks is a much better quarantine time.
During that time if there are any sniffles or signs of illness, do not introduce that chicken or chickens to your flock.
Careful observation of your chickens can save a lot of grief.
Quarantine, quarantine & quarantine.
Good luck when purchasing your next chickens!
You need to know what to avoid.
Some birds look obviously sick and others don't.
You still need to be able to spot a problem even if the bird isn't giving it away easily.
It's also helpful to be able to observe the early signs of illness in your own chickens at home so you can treat early rather than try too little too late.
You need to observe the chickens when they are relaxed and not aware of you watching them.
If you go up to the cage you need to wait awhile until they settle and go back to their normal behaviour.
A bird stressed by handling or by a changed environment may not show symptoms of illness because their natural instinct is to avoid a predator and they put on a good show so they don't look weak and become a target.
Obvious symptoms can be seen around the head.
A pale face and wattles is a poor sign.
If the comb is drooping when it shouldn't, if the wattles are dark red, the eyes dull, if there is a discharge from the nostrils, scabs anywhere, sniffing, head shaking or flicking, any gasping or sunken posture - the chicken is sick.
When you are watching, if you notice any birds that stand alone and are fluffed up and hunched, they are likely to be sick.
If a bird appears to be sleeping a lot, that is a negative sign.
Sometimes a sick bird will stand on one leg and perhaps pant, gasp or gape.
You can observe the bird walking or moving around and get a lot from the way it behaves.
If it limps, is lop-sided or looks slow or wrong in anyway, that's a sign that something may be wrong.
You should handle any bird before you buy it.
Run your hands over it body and feel its condition.
Calm the bird and assess it.
If it's bony thin, or under conditioned it's not a good purchase.
Some younger birds are slender but if the breastbone is sharp and thin, it is not doing well and should be avoided.
Check it for lice.
Look on the skin under the feathers.
Look around the vent, under the wings and on the belly.
Also check around the vent for signs of diarrhea.
If the bird smells bad, there may be something wrong.
Check inside the chickens beak for scabs, plaques or any abnormalities.
The beak should be nice and straight, the ears should be clean.
Your potential purchase should be upright, energetic, well covered with flesh, have bright eyes, be free of obvious parasites and have healthy feathering.
If you do decide that the bird you are look at is in good health and you purchase it, you should always quarantine.
Keep that bird separated from your flock in a place where you can worm it and observe it for a number of weeks.
Some say two weeks but four weeks is a much better quarantine time.
During that time if there are any sniffles or signs of illness, do not introduce that chicken or chickens to your flock.
Careful observation of your chickens can save a lot of grief.
Quarantine, quarantine & quarantine.
Good luck when purchasing your next chickens!
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