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 What does a healthy chicken look like? (from Chicken Run Rescue) <br />o Eyes: clear, clean, wide open, alert <br />o Face/comb/wattle: clean, soft, blemish free, <br />healthy deep red indicating good blood supply, <br />(some faces are not red) <br />o Posture: head erect, good balance, stand or perch <br />on both feet on extended legs, good grip on perch, <br />facing activity <br />o Odor: none or slightly fermented hay <br />o Beak/nostrils: clean, uniform, shiny and solid <br />o Legs/feet: clean, shiny, uniform scales and nails, <br />foot bottom soft and blemish free, legs and toes <br />straight and functional Feathers; clean, bright, <br />shiny, smooth or fluffy, free of mites or lice <br />o Wings: held close to body, symmetrical, smooth <br />movement in joints when flexed, flight feathers <br />intact <br />o Skin: clean, soft, pale pink and translucent (some breeds have bare red patches at <br />shoulders and keel), free of mites or lice <br />o Droppings: 70% odorless green/ white, firm, 30% stinky brown pasty (cecal), watery if <br />stressed <br />o Keel/sternum: Straight, good muscle mass on either side, lump free <br />o Crop (on bird’s right side of lower neck): full, contents of consumed food easily palpated <br />o Vent: petite, clean, moist, soft, pliant <br />o Respiration: 12-37 per min., inspiration louder and shorter than expiration, minimal chest <br />movement, closed beak <br /> <br /> <br /> What does a sick chicken look like? <br />o It is important to know what your chickens <br />NORMALLY look like—this is healthy. If <br />anything changes, likely this is <br />ABNORMAL and likely needs to be looked <br />at by a vet. <br />o This picture is of a VERY sick chicken that <br />needs veterinary care immediately. Note <br />how the chicken is standing low to the <br />ground, appears slightly fluffed, eyes are <br />closed, tail is held down, etc. <br /> What do I do if my chicken is sick? <br />o Bring to your veterinarian, just like any other <br />pet. <br />o It is inhumane to let a sick chicken slowly die without veterinary care. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />