Chick Poop Questions/ Troubleshoot requested

[New2ThisChix]

Hi! A few of my two week chicks I’ve noticed are having some runny/ occasionally straight up water stools. I added electrolytes and adjusted the heat to roughly 85ish in the hottest spot. They also have plenty of space to move around to get out of the heat as needed. Also they I think have started deciding pecking order and are flying all over the place. (They are all eating and drinking).

My biggest chick is the first one I noticed to have the watery stool. And she is drinking a lot.

They are eating unmedicated dumor chick starter only. No treats or grit.

 

[Huntmaster]

roughly 85ish in the hottest spot.

What is temp in coolest spot in brooder? if whole brooder is too warm, they will over drink and can cause wet droppings.

 

[Ridgerunner]

What am I looking for for coccidosis?

I'll include a link to what the Florida Extension Service has to say about Coccidiosis.

https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/suwannee...creased,in a high mortality rate of the flock

While bloody poop is a sign they might possibly have Coccidiosis, most chicks or chickens do not have bloody poops with Coccidiosis. There are different protozoa that can cause this disease, some are more powerful than others. Soem show blood, some don't.

What I most look for is where they are lethargic, standing around all fluffed up and hunched up. You can tell by looking that they just do not feel good. If you see that you should start treatment immediately. Treat the whole flock.

There are other things that can cause loose stools so I don't get too excited about that. It is a sign that something might be wrong or they may have just eaten something that loosened them up. Sounds like your heat is OK.

 

[Debbie292d]

I’ve put save a chick in it for about 24 hours now. Still runny / watery stools. What am I looking for for coccidosis?

blood in the poop but that's not always, and sometimes mistaken for a cecal poop which is normal and stinks to high heaven. Usually they're listless, standing around with their wings out a bit.

 

[New2ThisChix]

What is temp in coolest spot in brooder? if whole brooder is too warm, they will over drink and can cause wet droppings.

Over by the water and food it is about 65 or so

 

[Huntmaster]

Over by the water and food it is about 65 or so

Can you take a pic of your setup?

 

[Ridgerunner]

They are all still eating and drinking and they are kind of flying at each other, I assume determining pecking order or stress. None have appeared to be lifeless so to say. They even are probably sleeping less than they were, I assume just getting older they gradually sleep less?

It sounds like normal behavior to me. I very much doubt it is Coccidiosis. The typical life cycle for the Coccidiosis issues is that they are exposed to the protozoa that causes it. If they are in a wet environment the protozoa starts multiplying as the "eggs" come out the rear end and into that wet environment, where they mature. When the chicks eat the bedding or drink water that has poop in it (the protozoa eat the poop to grow) the numbers build up to a dangerous level. Some protozoa in their system is a good thing as long as the numbers don't get real high, they develop an immunity to it in two to three weeks. Some strains of the protozoa are stronger than others, sometimes you can have issues even if the brooder is fairly dry and you change the water often. But just because something is possible doesn't mean it is likely. I can't tell how clean your water is or how dry your coop is.

If you want to treat them with Corid according to label instructions you can. It will not hurt them. But as long as they are not lethargic I don't see the need.

Loose stools happen with animals occasionally, often something they eat. As long as they are acting normally I would not worry about it. But do watch how they act.

 

[aart]

I was considering the next bag of food being medicated?

No need really, it was the excessive heat that was the problem.

 

[aart]

You think so even though they had room to get out of the heat?

That's an awfully small container for such a powerful lamp.
The cool end of the space should be ~20° cooler.

 

[New2ThisChix]

It stays around 60-65°

That's an awfully small container for such a powerful lamp.
The cool end of the space should be ~20° cooler.