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chickenrunrescue.org Page 4 9/14/15
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />HEALTHY
BIRD
CHECKLIST
<br />Eyes:
clear,
clean,
wide
open,
alert
<br />Face
/
comb
/
wattle:
clean,
soft,
blemish
free,
healthy
deep
red
indicating
good
blood
supply,
(some
<br />faces
are
not
red)
<br />Posture:
head
erect,
good
balance,
stand
or
perch
on
both
feet
on
extended
legs,
good
grip
on
perch,
<br />facing
activity
<br />Odor:
none
or
slightly
fermented
hay
<br />Beak
/
nostrils:
clean,
uniform,
shiny
and
solid
<br />Legs
/
feet:
clean,
shiny,
uniform
scales
and
nails,
foot
bottom
soft
and
blemish
free,
legs
and
toes
<br />straight
and
functional
<br />Feathers;
clean,
bright,
shiny,
smooth
or
fluffy,
free
of
mites
or
lice
<br />Wings:
held
close
to
body,
symmetrical,
smooth
movement
in
joints
when
flexed,
flight
feathers
intact
<br />Skin:
clean,
soft,
pale
pink
and
translucent
(some
breeds
have
bare
red
patches
at
shoulders
and
keel),
<br />free
of
mites
or
lice
<br />Droppings:
70%
odorless
green/
white,
firm,
30%
stinky
brown
pasty
(cecal),
watery
if
stressed
<br />Keel
(sternum):
Straight,
good
muscle
mass
on
either
side,
lump
free
<br />Crop
(on
bird’s
right
side
of
lower
neck):
full,
contents
of
consumed
food
easily
palpated
<br />Vent:
petite,
clean,
moist,
soft,
pliant
<br />Respiration:
12-‐37
per
min.,
inspiration
louder
and
shorter
than
expiration,
minimal
chest
movement,
<br />closed
beak
<br />
<br />NUMBER
OF
BIRDS
<br />Calculating
available
space,
time,
and
cost
(see
above)
will
dictate
how
many
birds
can
be
properly
cared
<br />for:
<br />coop:
4
sq.
feet
of
floor
space
minimum
per
bird
for
the
interior
(an
area
2
ft.
x
2
ft.
per
bird)
<br />pen:
10
sq.
ft
of
floor
space
minimum
per
bird
(an
area
3
ft.
x
3.3
ft
per
bird)
<br />range/
exercise
yard:
174
sq.
ft
per
bird
(an
area
about
10
ft.
x
17
ft
per
bird)
<br />A
single
chicken
is
a
sad
chicken.
Plan
to
have
at
least
2-‐
they
are
flock
animals
and
need
the
<br />companionship
of
other
chickens.
Generally,
3-‐5
compatible
chickens
can
be
well
maintained
in
a
<br />typical
city
environment.
Individual
bird’s
sex,
age
and
temperament
can
affect
compatibility.
Over
<br />crowding
chickens
is
the
most
common
mistake.
Hens
should
outnumber
roosters.
Sometimes
single
<br />birds
can
thrive
with
a
human
friend
if
they
have
special
needs.
Roosters,
single
or
in
pairs,
are
very
<br />sociable
and
can
make
terrific
companions
if
handled
gently
and
often.
<br />
<br />HANDLING
&
RESTRAINT
<br />Never
handle
a
chicken
by
wings,
feet
or
legs.
Herd
bird
to
corner
using
slow
deliberate
movement.
<br />Fast=
predator,
slow
=
less
threat.
Place
hands
over
top
part
of
wings
(shoulders)
and
hold
securely
but
<br />do
not
squeeze.
Pick
up
and
hold
under
arm
to
keep
wings
in
place.
Support
feet
with
other
hand
if
bird
<br />will
tolerate.
To
restrain
for
transport
or
examination,
drape
a
towel
over
shoulders
cape
style
and
wrap
<br />around
body.
<br />
<br />TRANSPORTATION
<br />Consider
travel
time
and
avoid
extreme
weather
conditions.
Heat
exhaustion
can
develop
quickly,
<br />interior
car
temps
can
reach
fatal
point
10
minutes.
Medium
sized
hard
pet
carriers
work
well
for
<br />security,
safety,
stress.
Line
with
a
towel,
shredded
paper
or
straw.
Food
is
a
good
stress
reducer.
Offer
<br />wet
food
like
greens
or
cucumber
for
long
trips.
<br />
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