Assessing Your Chicken’s Health: Observations, Necropsy, and Breeding Insights

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In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, we dive deep into how to assess your chicken’s health—from daily live observations to hands-on necropsy techniques. Carey and Jennifer share detailed notes from their flocks, including Orpington grow-out observations, line breeding practices, and surprising behavior differences when young cockerels are raised with mature roosters.

We also cover:

• What to look for in combs, wattles, eyes, and feathers
• How to check chickens for mites, lice, and scaly leg mites
• The importance of vigor, temperament, and survivability in breeding selection
• Simple tools and methods for performing a home necropsy
• Why observing chickens in natural flocks teaches valuable lessons

Whether you’re showing chickens, running a homestead, or raising poultry for meat and eggs, this episode gives you practical tools to keep your flock healthy and thriving.

🔗 Visit PoultryNerdsPodcast.com
 for reference materials, necropsy guides, and bonus resources.

Keywords: assessing chicken health, chicken necropsy, poultry care, backyard chickens, chicken mites, chicken breeding, Orpington chickens, poultry nutrition, homestead chickens

Join Carey of Show Pro Farm Supply and Jennifer of Bryant's Roost as we delve into chickens and quail (mostly)  to help you enjoy your birds more and worry less. Backyard chicken keeping shouldnt be stressfull, let's get back to the simple days

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