Droppings
One way of telling how healthy your chickens 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 chickens gut is having a good clear out.
Loose looking droppings like diarrhea can sometimes be caused by a chicken eating too many 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 too.
Chickens Comb
Unless you have a young pullet your hens should have bright red combs which stand firm (with the exception of certain breeds like a leghorns, which flops over). This indicates that the hen is in lay.
Bright Eyes
The chickens eyes should be clear and bright with no discharge. The same applies to the nostrils.
If your chickens are looking a little bit poorly, check out our common ailments page for more information on illnesses and treatment.
