The “tail‑base dorsal approach” to locate and examine the bursa of Fabricius during necropsy. This technique provides easy access to the bursa without opening the abdominal cavity. The protocol in brief:

• Place the bird in a sternal position and elevate the tail.
• Remove the feathers at the tail base.
• Make a horizontal skin incision just cranial to the tail base.
• Reflect the skin cranially and caudally.
• Use blunt dissection with scissors or forceps.
• Separate the subcutaneous tissue until the bursal capsule becomes visible.
• Leave the bursa in situ for examination, or make a longitudinal incision along its dorsal surface.

For more information on the bursa and its functions, see the chapter “The immune system of the chicken” in the book.