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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 />NUMBER OF BIRDS
<br />Calculating available space, time, and cost (see above) will dictate how many birds can be properly cared
<br />fo r:
<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 />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 />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 />chickenrunrescue.org Page 4 9/14/15
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