Basic Hen Anatomy

• When fully grown the chicken should sport a nice firm comb
• The comb will be bright red when the chicken is in lay.
• The eyes should be beady and bright.
• A healthy chicken will be perky, lean and active.
• Scales on the legs and feet should be smooth and not lifting.
• The colour of the legs is a good indicator of whether the chicken is laying. If they are very yellow then she is probably not laying eggs yet. If they are pale almost white then she probably is.
• When you pick your chicken up her body should be plump and firm, but with no flabbyness.
• You can examine your chickens eyes and nose to check there are no discharges.
• The vent (the chickens all-purpose exit point) should be moist and white, with no lumps, crustiness, bleeding etc.

3 Helpful books

Chicken Health Handbook on Amazon.co.uk

Storeys guide to raising chickens on Amazon.com*

Poultry Health handbook on amazon.com*