Flock health
What a healthy hen looks like, and what to do when one does not
Daily checks, the common problems, and a checklist to take to the vet.
The five-minute daily check
- Everyone up, moving and interested in food
- Bright eyes, clean nostrils, a red comb
- Clean vent, no pasted feathers
- Feed and water clean and full
- Droppings normal on the board under the roost
SYMPTOMS
What you see, what it often is, what to do
| You notice | Often | First step |
|---|---|---|
| Hunched, fluffed up, off food | Illness or egg-binding | Isolate, warm, check the vent; vet if no change by tomorrow |
| Bald patches, feathers everywhere | Molt, or pecking | Molt in autumn is normal; pecking needs more space and distraction |
| Scaly, raised leg scales | Scaly leg mite | Soak and oil the legs; treat the coop |
| Sneezing, watery eyes | Respiratory infection | Isolate; vet, as some are contagious |
| Limping | Bumblefoot or injury | Check the foot pad for a black scab; vet if swollen |
| Stopped laying | Season, molt, age or stress | Usually normal; check for hidden nests and for a broody hen |
What to bring, so nothing is missed
Not every vet sees poultry. Find one that does before you need one, and keep the number on the coop door.
When you go, take the bird in a ventilated box with a towel, and take notes on when it started, what has changed, and what the rest of the flock is doing.
Checklist
- When you first noticed
- Eating and drinking, yes or no
- Droppings, described
- Any new birds recently
- Feed brand and any treats
- Photos of the coop and run