Choosing Your Hens

Due to the huge growth in domestic chicken keeping over recent years, a number of amateur keepers have become involved in breeding and dealing in garden hens, without enough knowledge, and practical animal husbandry experience. This has resulted in large numbers of unhealthy or weak chickens on the market, and unhappy experiences for unsuspecting customers searching for cheap hens
Here are a few points to look for:-

The hen should feel strong and muscular when held, and well-fleshed either side of the keel
The keel should be straight and not deformed
The eyes should be bright and clear – not watery, or bubbly, and with no swelling or discharge
The comb should be pink or red, plump and smooth, not be dry, pale, or shrivelled
The abdomen should be rounded and soft – not swollen and spongy or hard.
The crop should not be swollen with fluid, or enlarged or compacted, but it should contain some food.
The nasal area should be clean & dry, with no discharge, crusts or mucous
The beak should meet in the middle and not be crossed
Toes should be straight and not bent
The breath should smell fresh and be clear with no sign of congestion in the throat or lungs
The plumage should smell fresh and feel pliable with no parasite damage around the quills
The skin should be clean with no signs of parasite damage
The legs should be smooth with no raised scales
The vent should be clean and dry
The hen should be active, busy, alert, and full of vigour

Where to look and what to look for

Buy from a reputable breeder, preferably a specialist in one breed or strain of hen
Avoid bird auctions and sales, as these are often a source of disease as birds are brought in from all areas
Look for suppliers who are prepared to guarantee their stock
Avoid situations where there are hens of all ages in proximity to one another
Avoid false claims of ‘full vaccination’ programmes for pure breed hens
Buying on price alone is not conducive to finding good quality livestock, and often results in disappointment.