John Sutter123
In the Brooder
- Feb 3, 2023
- 29
- 19
- 26
Hi all, Seems like I've wasted a lot of money at two different vets with little resolution of digestive issues. Please let me know what you recommend. I really appreciate you guys.
What type of bird, age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
- 10 birds in the flock. 10 months old: 2 each of Marans, Wyandottes, & Orpingtons. 5 ½ months old: 2 each of Barred Rocks & Black Australorpes. Added in the 4 younger birds on December 10, 2022. The 4 younger birds were said to have been vaccinated, the 6 older ones were not.
2) What is the behavior, exactly?
-At least 4 of the 10 (for sure the 2 Wyandottes and maybe 1 of the barred rocks) have had chronic diarrhea since mid-January 2022 (approx. 6 weeks). I just replaced all the coop pine shavings bedding in mid-January; the original litter was in there since May of 2022 and dry as a bone (deep litter method). After only 6 weeks, the new pine shavings are becoming completely soaked in wet poop (please see photos). All kinds of little bugs (nats) are draw to it.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
-Approx. 6 weeks
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
- Please take a look at the photo with the poop on cardboard: it appears that there are at least 4 birds with extremely wet poop; for sure the two Wyandottes.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
-Both Marans have a bunch of feathers missing from the vent and belly area but that is from feather picking. Both my Orpingtons have pinless peepers on now and that has solved this issue.
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
-Just my guess: Added 4 new birds to flock on 12/10/22; maybe stress. Was Fermenting the food on and off (not consistent) to try to unlock more nutrients and make the feed go a bit further. Had been keeping a bucket feeder (dry feed only) in the run so they had food anytime they wanted; they would rake out and waste a bunch of feed, then eat it off the run floor (double ground log mulch). I read something about this can cause moldy food, so now I just feed them outside on the ground AM and PM.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
- Except for Wyandotte #2 (crop issues), normal eating and drinking at this time. “New Country Organics”, F50 layer feed, 17% crude protein. Added ACV & Rooster booster (vitamins, electrolytes, and probiotics) into water. I bought some organic Purina layer crumbles (16% protein) at the feed store yesterday and am considering changing over to this feed; what do you guys think? Vet said grains are harder to digest.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
-Poop is very liquid- please see photos. Cardboard was put under the roost bars last night.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
-Marans #1 – had vent gleet. 2/3/23 treated with Miconazole for vent gleet – seems resolved now.
-Wyandotte #2 – Impacted or Doughy crop. Took to vet 2/24/23. They did a fecal float and it came back negative for everything. They did not test for Yeast/Candida Albicans. Vet gave me Nystatin & Trimethoprim to crop feed with syringe and tube. Crop is better now but will most likely need a bra.
-Wyandotte #1 – Worst diarrhea of all. Took to different vet on 3/2/23. They did these two tests and both came back negative: 1) Grams Stain, 2) Fecal Exam-comprehensive. They said they checked for Yeast/Candida as well as parasites – negative on both results. Vet gave me Panacure susp 100mg/ml to beak feed 1x/day.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
-I’d prefer to do the treatment myself if possible
-I have never wormed any of the birds – maybe I should. Could this be from worms?
-Please help me identify the cause of the constant diarrhea.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
-Please see attached photos
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
-Coop bedding – pine shavings. Run bedding – Double ground log mulch & sand.
What type of bird, age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
- 10 birds in the flock. 10 months old: 2 each of Marans, Wyandottes, & Orpingtons. 5 ½ months old: 2 each of Barred Rocks & Black Australorpes. Added in the 4 younger birds on December 10, 2022. The 4 younger birds were said to have been vaccinated, the 6 older ones were not.
2) What is the behavior, exactly?
-At least 4 of the 10 (for sure the 2 Wyandottes and maybe 1 of the barred rocks) have had chronic diarrhea since mid-January 2022 (approx. 6 weeks). I just replaced all the coop pine shavings bedding in mid-January; the original litter was in there since May of 2022 and dry as a bone (deep litter method). After only 6 weeks, the new pine shavings are becoming completely soaked in wet poop (please see photos). All kinds of little bugs (nats) are draw to it.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
-Approx. 6 weeks
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
- Please take a look at the photo with the poop on cardboard: it appears that there are at least 4 birds with extremely wet poop; for sure the two Wyandottes.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
-Both Marans have a bunch of feathers missing from the vent and belly area but that is from feather picking. Both my Orpingtons have pinless peepers on now and that has solved this issue.
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
-Just my guess: Added 4 new birds to flock on 12/10/22; maybe stress. Was Fermenting the food on and off (not consistent) to try to unlock more nutrients and make the feed go a bit further. Had been keeping a bucket feeder (dry feed only) in the run so they had food anytime they wanted; they would rake out and waste a bunch of feed, then eat it off the run floor (double ground log mulch). I read something about this can cause moldy food, so now I just feed them outside on the ground AM and PM.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
- Except for Wyandotte #2 (crop issues), normal eating and drinking at this time. “New Country Organics”, F50 layer feed, 17% crude protein. Added ACV & Rooster booster (vitamins, electrolytes, and probiotics) into water. I bought some organic Purina layer crumbles (16% protein) at the feed store yesterday and am considering changing over to this feed; what do you guys think? Vet said grains are harder to digest.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
-Poop is very liquid- please see photos. Cardboard was put under the roost bars last night.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
-Marans #1 – had vent gleet. 2/3/23 treated with Miconazole for vent gleet – seems resolved now.
-Wyandotte #2 – Impacted or Doughy crop. Took to vet 2/24/23. They did a fecal float and it came back negative for everything. They did not test for Yeast/Candida Albicans. Vet gave me Nystatin & Trimethoprim to crop feed with syringe and tube. Crop is better now but will most likely need a bra.
-Wyandotte #1 – Worst diarrhea of all. Took to different vet on 3/2/23. They did these two tests and both came back negative: 1) Grams Stain, 2) Fecal Exam-comprehensive. They said they checked for Yeast/Candida as well as parasites – negative on both results. Vet gave me Panacure susp 100mg/ml to beak feed 1x/day.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
-I’d prefer to do the treatment myself if possible
-I have never wormed any of the birds – maybe I should. Could this be from worms?
-Please help me identify the cause of the constant diarrhea.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
-Please see attached photos
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
-Coop bedding – pine shavings. Run bedding – Double ground log mulch & sand.