Healthy hens
General check-ups
It's good to keep an eye on your girls to make sure they're in top physical
condition. Healthy hens should be bright and spritely with their tail
up and keeping active.
Droppings
One way of telling how healthy your hens are is by their droppings. They
should be firm and dark but 1 in every 10 droppings will take on the
appearance of chip shop curry sauce. This is called caecal poo and is
just an indication that the hens gut is having a good clear out. Loose
looking droppings like diarrhea can sometimes be caused by the hens eating
plenty of slugs and worms but it's best to keep an eye on them to make
sure they're not poorly. Their vent (bum) should be clean and
clear also.
Comb
Unless you have a young pullet your hens should have bright red combs which
stand firm (unless they're of a particular breed). This indicates that
the hen is in lay.
Eyes
Should be clear and bright with no discharge. The same applies to the nostrils.
For information on common ailments etc, click on the links in the green box on the left.