sounds good to me HF , There are so many things to check so we do need to take time to come up with a checklist so that people with a potential problem can work through it and let us know what the results are, then perhaps a better diagnosis could be given (even if it is just - take them to a vet ).
Joyfull
I probably didn't make myself clear but I was thinking more about a check list of how to
describe the problem and what peripheral info to provide to describe the case rather than a check list of things to check for to come to a tentative diagnosis.
It's extremely difficult to advise people (and I'd steer away from making a diagnosis remotely) when the symptoms are so skimpy and the background info is missing such as age, laying history, method of husbandry, nutrition, age, flock history etc. All of which a vet might use as well as seeing the bird first hand analysing samples, seeing the response to medication, post mortem findings etc. I think we have to be very cautious in all but the plainest cases as obviously some symptoms people describe could be caused by very simple things which will right themselves or could equally indicate major problems needing a vet. It's just impossible to tell from some descriptions how serious it is. The safest course is to advise "see a vet" and I wonder whether that shouldn't be the stock advice unless the symptoms are very clear and a pretty obvious set of problems to check for can be given.
Although we could devise a list of information to provide which would also be useful when visiting a vet, I'd be a little wary about having diagnostic lists as with the best will in the world we aren't professionally qualified to devise such a list. I wouldn't like to cause delay in sick birds getting treatment by encouraging people to try things which are not going to work. If in doubt see a vet should be the guiding principle, (having said that I've only ever personally done so once in 12 years but that results from with a good deal of experience and knowing the background and being able to examine the bird first hand.)
Regards
HF