Why Fecal Tests Should Be Part of Every Chicken Keeper's Toolkit

When it comes to keeping our feathered friends healthy, one of the most valuable diagnostic tools is often overlooked: the simple fecal test. This summer's rescue and fostering experiences reminded us just how crucial these tests can be for catching problems early and making informed care decisions.

Knowledge is Power (and Health)

Internal parasites are very common in chickens, but they're often invisible until they've caused significant damage. A fecal test gives you a clear picture of what's happening inside your birds before external symptoms appear. It's like having a window into their internal health, and sometimes, it reveals surprises that change everything about how you approach treatment.

If you're new to fecal testing, check out our detailed guide on how to conduct fecal tests for chickens. It walks you through the simple process of collecting samples and sending them to a lab for professional analysis. No microscope required on your end!

Real Stories from This Summer's Rescues

This summer, we had the opportunity to rescue and foster several chickens, and our standard intake protocol includes fecal testing for all new arrivals. Here's how those tests shaped our care decisions:

Mika & Ziva's Farm Legacy

These two arrived together from a slaughterhouse, and their fecal tests revealed coccidia, a common issue in farm settings where birds are kept in closer quarters. Armed with this knowledge, we were able to start them on Corid treatment immediately while keeping them in quarantine to avoid contaminating our resident birds. After all, it's much easier to treat two birds in isolation than to deal with an entire flock infection. Once their follow-up fecal tests came back clean, we were able to move them outside and begin the introduction process with our resident flock.

Bisou's Lesson in Follow-Up

When we tested Bisou, the results showed she was heavily loaded with capillaria (hairworm). We started her on our usual first-line treatment of fenbendazole, but here's where the real lesson came in: we did a follow-up fecal test after treatment. While the parasite load had decreased, there were still some lingering, which meant the treatment hadn't fully eradicated the problem. This second test was crucial because without it, we might have assumed she was cured and stopped treatment too early. Instead, we had to put her on a more aggressive treatment to fully clear everything out. A third fecal test after the escalated treatment finally came back clean, and Bisou was able to head off to her forever home. This whole situation really hammered home why follow-up testing is just as important as that initial diagnosis.

The Clean Bill of Health

Perhaps just as importantly, our four other foster chickens came back with clean fecal tests. This wasn't just good news, it was actionable information. Because we knew they were parasite-free, we felt confident moving them to our guest coop sooner than we might have otherwise, giving them more space and outdoor access while they waited for their forever homes.

The Bottom Line

Each of these situations demonstrates why fecal testing isn't just good practice, it's essential care. Whether you're dealing with new arrivals, investigating health concerns, or simply doing routine health checks, fecal tests provide the concrete information you need to make the best decisions for your birds.

Don't wait until you see symptoms. Make fecal testing part of your regular chicken care routine. Your birds (and your peace of mind) will thank you for it.