Assessment of Condition in Chickens

Condition scoring of poultry is perhaps less used than for example scoring of sheep, goats and pigs. However, practical scoring systems do exist, and that described here is adapted from a body condition scoring system for layer hens. General behavioural and physical observations also allow the livestock keeper to assess the state of health of a flock or of individual birds.

Body condition scoring system for layer hens Visual Assessment of Condition

The chicken is held by the legs in one hand, usually upside down. The palm of the other hand is then used for palpating and grading the protuberance of the keel, the development of the breast muscles immediately alongside the ventral ridge of the keel, and the convexity or concavity of the breast muscle contour. A study by Gregory and Robins has demonstrated that this system of scoring has a good relationship with the bird's fat and muscle reserves.

It is very important for the livestock owner to learn how to detect an unhealthy or sick bird, so the necessary steps can be taken to control infections. General behavioural and physical observations provide a good indication and the table below lists the main characteristics of healthy and unhealthy birds. Healthy birds may be able to fight against many diseases and infections by themselves whereas unhealthy birds will have significant difficulties in fighting diseases, and are also more likely to then pass the diseases on to other birds in the flock. It is also important to isolate unhealthy or sick birds from the healthy flock in order to ensure a minimum of infection within the flock and to reduce losses.

A manual on Keeping Village Poultry produced by the Network for Smallholder Poultry Development lists ten simple rules for disease prevention. These can be combined with regular observations of the above symptoms.

1.	Give access to the right feed and clean water, in particular for small chicks
2.	Build shelters against wind and rain
3.	Clean houses regularly and apply lime wash on the floor and the walls
4.	If necessary, provide dry litter regularly
5.	Do not put too many birds together
6.	Different species of poultry, for example hens, turkeys, pigeons, ducks and guinea fowls should be kept separate
7.	Separate chicks from adult birds except from the mother hen
8.	Vaccinate chicks against the most important diseases and revaccinate if necessary
9.	Isolate and treat sick birds – if medication is not available then kill the sick birds
10.	Burn or bury killed birds