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

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond!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 feathersHow to check chickens for mites, lice, and scaly leg mitesThe importance of vigor, temperament, and survivability in breeding selectionSimple tools and methods for performing a home necropsyWhy observing chickens in natural flocks teaches valuable lessonsWhether 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 Valley Hatchery is a proud sponsor of Poultry Nerds, find more at ValleyHatchery.com Support the showFeel Free to email us at - [email protected] us on Facebook at - https://www.facebook.com/PoultryNerdsSign up for News at PoultryNerds.comEggFoam.com get your egg shippers and live shipping boxes and always get free shipping!ShowPro feed supplement for all your feathered friends! Grow them bigger and healthier with the best ingredients.Coturnix Quail hatching eggs from Bryant's Roost, including jumbo celadons!Quail cartons and Supplies from Double R FarmsPlease subscribe to our podcast and leave a review, we appreciate you.  And if you have a subject request, email us. [email protected]