Abstract: Simple Summary: The characteristics of poultry droppings can reflect the health status of chickens. However, the existing literature lacks information on the physical–chemical properties of droppings, which could be useful for the development of practical and reliable diagnostic tools to monitor chickens' welfare status. In order to expand the database in this field, this study examines the physical–chemical properties (e.g., texture, color, acidity, (short-chain) fatty acids, volatile compounds, etc.) of chicken droppings, which were collected during different chicken age periods (0–5, 6–10, 11–20, 21–30, and 31–40 days) and classified by visual inspection into normal and abnormal. The findings of this study show that normal droppings have a harder texture, less redness and yellowness, higher dry matter content, higher level of linoleic fatty acid, and lower level of α-linolenic fatty acid than abnormal ones in each age period. The age period of the chicken had a significant influence on most of the tested properties of the droppings. While some properties show that normal and abnormal droppings differ from one another, a presumably wider variety of droppings is needed to show more precise trends regarding the distribution of characteristics across normal and abnormal droppings of chickens at different ages. The aim of this study was to analyze the physical and chemical characteristics of chicken droppings (n = 73), which were collected during different age periods and classified by visual inspection into normal (N) and abnormal (A). Significant differences were found in the texture, pH, dry matter (DM), fatty acids (FAs), short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and volatile compounds (VCs) between the tested dropping groups (p ≤ 0.05). The age period of the chicken had a significant influence on the color coordinates, texture, pH, DM, and SCFA contents in N and A as well as on all FAs content in N (p ≤ 0.05). Droppings from the N group had a harder texture, lower values of a* and b* color coordinates, higher DM content, higher level of linoleic FA, and lower level of α-linolenic FA than the droppings from the A group in each age period (p ≤ 0.05). The predominant SCFA was acetic acid, the content of which was significantly lower in the N group compared to that of the A group. The alcohol and organic acid contents were the highest in most of the A group at different age periods, while ketones dominated in the N and A groups. In conclusion, the majority of the tested dropping characteristics were influenced by the age period. While certain characteristics demonstrate differences between N and A, a likely broader range of droppings is required to provide more distinct trends regarding the distribution of characteristics across different droppings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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