How does a chicken show pain?

[PatriotShar]

I have lost several chickens now to different issues.

I want to know how to tell when they are in pain

 

[bantamluv]

Typically a chicken will isolate itself, droop down in a corner, limp, not eat/drink/move, they will not get excited about food, etc. What behaviors do your birds express that makes you worry?

 

[PatriotShar]

Typically a chicken will isolate itself, droop down in a corner, limp, not eat/drink/move, they will not get excited about food, etc. What behaviors do your birds express that makes you worry?

I've lost a couple of chickens to different issues. I'm newbie & I just don't want them to suffer. I just lost 1 & kept putting off putting her down ... hoping that she would be OK ... but when I got home today she was dead.
she was eating & drinking some (not as much as usual) but wouldn't move much & kept putting head to side & closing eyes. I have another thread I posted about her

 

[bantamluv]

Aww no! I'm so sorry! There could be a variety of things causing this.. Just know now that she's in Chickie Heaven.

 

[azygous]

Chickens show pain only in a very subtle and subdued manner. Instinct demands they do everything they can not to show pain. The following are signs of internal pain:

First, they are mute. No vocalization at all. Zero.

Second, they stand very still with their tail held down low and flat.

Third, they often try to protect themselves from the other chickens by facing in toward a corner or a wall, head held down, beak toward their neck.

External pain is often shown by favoring a foot or leg, holding it up against the body. A thorn or injury in a foot pad will be pecked at, as will a broken toe nail or talon.

In all my years of keeping chickens, I've only heard one cry out in pain, and this is with a current hen with a severe, chronic bumblefoot. It hurts her to jump onto a roosting perch, and she will shriek in pain. But this is extremely rare.

 

[Folly's place]

Most animals are very motivated to NOT show any signs of weakness or pain, so by the time there's a behavior change, as A described, the critter just can't cope any more. Mary

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Chickens show pain only in a very subtle and subdued manner. Instinct demands they do everything they can not to show pain....

As I have stated before, sick, injured, and compromised chickens are targets of convenience for other flock members to attack in attempts to improve their own standing in the pecking order. Therefore I agree with azygous, it is in a chicken's best interest to avoid all outward manifestations of pain.

 

[theoldchick]

I think your real question is: What do I look for to detect when my bird is ill?
There are many things to look for: Loss of appetite, fluffed appearance, unwilling to move, sneezing, coughing, drainage from eyes, sudden friendly behavior, pale comb are some of the things you will notice. And as mentioned chickens, since they are prey animals, will do their best to hide their illness so you have to have a sharp eye to detect a problem.

Sorry for your loss.