Grumpy Lady
Chirping
Hello all,
I will try to include all the pertinent information.
I have four hens who are approximately 2.5 years old. They are laying consistently and combs are red and lush, activity level normal (scratching, eating, following me around, drinking, begging for snacks etc.)
We have had about a full week of rainy days and they have been confined to the coop and run, partly because of the rain and partly because we now also have five 11 week old pullets that have been joined in with the flock after several weeks of integration (see no touch) and proximity training.
Today I was able to allow the hens into the back yard under our lilacs where they enjoyed scratching around for worms and bugs and green things.
A week ago before the rain when they were outside I caught them snacking on iris leaves which apparently can be toxic so I fenced that area off. They are only allowed out of the fully enclosed run for "yard time" when I am around in the back yard or at home.
For food they are all on non-medicated chick starter for now, with free access to oyster shell, and for snacks they get scattered black oil sunflower seed, fresh oregano, prickly lettuce or dandelions that I pull from a non-sprayed yard, apple, rose blossoms, and last week they got some grapes. Snacks are limited to hopefully only 10% or less of total intake.
Today they also got a half of watermelon to try and get the two age groups to feel comfortable snacking next to eachother.
The two flocks are still choosing to mostly stay segregated, and two of the older hens are still pecking or chasing the younger pullets when they see them.
I think that is all the background information including food, weather, stress, etc.
Today while working out in the back yard while the chickens were out I noticed that all four of my laying hens appear to have extremely watery diarrhea/poop. Very little solid waste at all, almost entirely water and clear, no apparent color to the water. I can't get a good picture because it soaks into the ground so quickly. One of the hens has a very dirty bum that looks like some poop has been sticking to her fluffy feathers for a couple of days possibly. Their activity levels are normal, they are eating like normal, clucking, running around and exploring, all four laid normal eggs today and have been on normal laying cycle all week. The younger pullets all appear to have normal looking poop.
I am baffled at what might be causing the watery poop and if I should be concerned. Obviously the watermelon treat today gave them more hydration than normal, is this just excess water without the urates that they are expelling? Is it delayed toxicity from the iris a week ago? Is it stress from the rain and still adjusting to integration of two age groups? Is there something else that I should be concerned about or treat them for?
I would appreciate any advise or insight as this is a new occurrence to me (we have had different consistencies or different colors of poop based on what they eat and times of year, but nothing this exclusively just water).
Thank you in advance for all the experience and suggestions from this site, you are all appreciated!
I will try to include all the pertinent information.
I have four hens who are approximately 2.5 years old. They are laying consistently and combs are red and lush, activity level normal (scratching, eating, following me around, drinking, begging for snacks etc.)
We have had about a full week of rainy days and they have been confined to the coop and run, partly because of the rain and partly because we now also have five 11 week old pullets that have been joined in with the flock after several weeks of integration (see no touch) and proximity training.
Today I was able to allow the hens into the back yard under our lilacs where they enjoyed scratching around for worms and bugs and green things.
A week ago before the rain when they were outside I caught them snacking on iris leaves which apparently can be toxic so I fenced that area off. They are only allowed out of the fully enclosed run for "yard time" when I am around in the back yard or at home.
For food they are all on non-medicated chick starter for now, with free access to oyster shell, and for snacks they get scattered black oil sunflower seed, fresh oregano, prickly lettuce or dandelions that I pull from a non-sprayed yard, apple, rose blossoms, and last week they got some grapes. Snacks are limited to hopefully only 10% or less of total intake.
Today they also got a half of watermelon to try and get the two age groups to feel comfortable snacking next to eachother.
The two flocks are still choosing to mostly stay segregated, and two of the older hens are still pecking or chasing the younger pullets when they see them.
I think that is all the background information including food, weather, stress, etc.
Today while working out in the back yard while the chickens were out I noticed that all four of my laying hens appear to have extremely watery diarrhea/poop. Very little solid waste at all, almost entirely water and clear, no apparent color to the water. I can't get a good picture because it soaks into the ground so quickly. One of the hens has a very dirty bum that looks like some poop has been sticking to her fluffy feathers for a couple of days possibly. Their activity levels are normal, they are eating like normal, clucking, running around and exploring, all four laid normal eggs today and have been on normal laying cycle all week. The younger pullets all appear to have normal looking poop.
I am baffled at what might be causing the watery poop and if I should be concerned. Obviously the watermelon treat today gave them more hydration than normal, is this just excess water without the urates that they are expelling? Is it delayed toxicity from the iris a week ago? Is it stress from the rain and still adjusting to integration of two age groups? Is there something else that I should be concerned about or treat them for?
I would appreciate any advise or insight as this is a new occurrence to me (we have had different consistencies or different colors of poop based on what they eat and times of year, but nothing this exclusively just water).
Thank you in advance for all the experience and suggestions from this site, you are all appreciated!
