3 1/2 week old chick poop question

[Amicusrose]

I've done a search on normal chick poop, and read several posts. None of them answered my question, though.

I think this is from drinking more water than usual, but as a first time chicken owner, I'm really nervous and unsure. I've been feeding them Dumor 20% chick starter/grower and providing a little bit of MannaPro Chick Grit with probiotics sprinkled on top. Fresh filtered water is available 24/7. They have their wings fully feathered, and feathers are beginning to show up on their chests and tails. I have lifted the heat light to about 3 feet above them, and they have lots of room to run and practice flying. All of them are active, eat and drink well, and love to come to the door of the coop for "treats" (their chick feed in our hand).

All that to say does this poop look normal?

 

[Rose Quartz]

It looks normal, if a bit wet. Not something to be worried about.

 

[Amicusrose]

It looks normal, if a bit wet. Not something to be worried about.

Thank you!

 

[Mdrook]

I've done a search on normal chick poop, and read several posts. None of them answered my question, though.

I think this is from drinking more water than usual, but as a first time chicken owner, I'm really nervous and unsure. I've been feeding them Dumor 20% chick starter/grower and providing a little bit of MannaPro Chick Grit with probiotics sprinkled on top. Fresh filtered water is available 24/7. They have their wings fully feathered, and feathers are beginning to show up on their chests and tails. I have lifted the heat light to about 3 feet above them, and they have lots of room to run and practice flying. All of them are active, eat and drink well, and love to come to the door of the coop for "treats" (their chicknfeed in our hand.

All that to say does this poop look normal?

Its normal

 

[Amicusrose]

Its normal

Thank you!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I think this is from drinking more water than usual, but as a first time chicken owner, I'm really nervous and unsure.

Welcome to BYC!

It's true excess water intake can cause watery stools. Which that is not.

About every 10th dropping will be a cecal poop, usually more stinky and funky than a standard one. See the following link..

https://the-chicken-chick.com/whats-scoop-on-chicken-poop-digestive/

Sounds like your set up is good. You're main cause for concern comes if you see a bloody poop (usually bright red) or chicks standing around kinda puffed up with head pulled in and not really eating. It doesn't have to be both as only 1 of the 9-11 known strains of coccidia (NOT cocci) that effect chickens *may* present as blood in droppings. Then coccidiosis may need treating. Following link just so you can see what it looks like and ease your mind..

https://the-chicken-chick.com/coccidiosis-what-backyard-chicken/

Coccidia are in every poo, carried by the chick already but only a problem when too many sporulated ocysts (eggs) have been ingested. Keeping bedding dry with plenty of space and clean water (meaning poo free because dirt is irrelevant) are usually enough to prevent it.

Speaking of dirt, it's a great time to add in a clod/clump of dirt, grass and all, if you haven't already. It will be great enrichment, give them some natural grit, and also a LITTLE exposure to the things in you soil (like other strains of coccidia) before they go out full time to help them build natural immunity. There should have been enough time by this age for all vaccines to be set up if any were used.

Hope this helps!
Chicken learning never stops, happy adventures!

 

[Amicusrose]

Welcome to BYC!

It's true excess water intake can cause watery stools. Which that is not.

About every 10th dropping will be a cecal poop, usually more stinky and funky than a standard one. See the following link..

https://the-chicken-chick.com/whats-scoop-on-chicken-poop-digestive/

Sounds like your set up is good. You're main cause for concern comes if you see a bloody poop (usually bright red) or chicks standing around kinda puffed up with head pulled in and not really eating. It doesn't have to be both as only 1 of the 9-11 known strains of coccidia (NOT cocci) that effect chickens *may* present as blood in droppings. Then coccidiosis may need treating. Following link just so you can see what it looks like and ease your mind..

https://the-chicken-chick.com/coccidiosis-what-backyard-chicken/

Coccidia are in every poo, carried by the chick already but only a problem when too many sporulated ocysts (eggs) have been ingested. Keeping bedding dry with plenty of space and clean water (meaning poo free because dirt is irrelevant) are usually enough to prevent it.

Speaking of dirt, it's a great time to add in a clod/clump of dirt, grass and all, if you haven't already. It will be great enrichment, give them some natural grit, and also a LITTLE exposure to the things in you soil (like other strains of coccidia) before they go out full time to help them build natural immunity. There should have been enough time by this age for all vaccines to be set up if any were used.

Hope this helps!
Chicken learning never stops, happy adventures!

Thank you so much! I didn't even think about bringing in some grass/dirt to start exposing them. I will definitely do that.

 

[DramaBrahmaMama]

I've done a search on normal chick poop, and read several posts. None of them answered my question, though.

I think this is from drinking more water than usual, but as a first time chicken owner, I'm really nervous and unsure. I've been feeding them Dumor 20% chick starter/grower and providing a little bit of MannaPro Chick Grit with probiotics sprinkled on top. Fresh filtered water is available 24/7. They have their wings fully feathered, and feathers are beginning to show up on their chests and tails. I have lifted the heat light to about 3 feet above them, and they have lots of room to run and practice flying. All of them are active, eat and drink well, and love to come to the door of the coop for "treats" (their chicknfeed in our hand.

All that to say does this poop look normal?

I'm grateful for your question and pics... I had the same exact thing! I was looking at all these disgusting poop posts... my husband never said a word... but did look at me sideways... But I found none of them had the exact thing I was seeing in my brooder. Well, yours is exact!!! All my chicks are active, eating like piggies and growing all their wing feathers like champions. I did add some soil to their chicky condo, and that watery brown mess has appeared less and less. We also give scrambled egg treats with dried thyme and Oregano in it... Just treats, not too much or too often. They turn into tiny velociraptors when they see me grab the container... So... again... Thanks for asking and including pics!!!

 

[Amicusrose]

I'm grateful for your question and pics... I had the same exact thing! I was looking at all these disgusting poop posts... my husband never said a word... but did look at me sideways... But I found none of them had the exact thing I was seeing in my brooder. Well, yours is exact!!! All my chicks are active, eating like piggies and growing all their wing feathers like champions. I did add some soil to their chicky condo, and that watery brown mess has appeared less and less. We also give scrambled egg treats with dried thyme and Oregano in it... Just treats, not too much or too often. They turn into tiny velociraptors when they see me grab the container... So... again... Thanks for asking and including pics!!!

Yay! I'm glad my post helped. Yeah, looking through pictures of poo will get you a side glance or two.

 

[TXKukupantsKoop]

Welcome to BYC!

It's true excess water intake can cause watery stools. Which that is not.

About every 10th dropping will be a cecal poop, usually more stinky and funky than a standard one. See the following link..

https://the-chicken-chick.com/whats-scoop-on-chicken-poop-digestive/

Sounds like your set up is good. You're main cause for concern comes if you see a bloody poop (usually bright red) or chicks standing around kinda puffed up with head pulled in and not really eating. It doesn't have to be both as only 1 of the 9-11 known strains of coccidia (NOT cocci) that effect chickens *may* present as blood in droppings. Then coccidiosis may need treating. Following link just so you can see what it looks like and ease your mind..

https://the-chicken-chick.com/coccidiosis-what-backyard-chicken/

Coccidia are in every poo, carried by the chick already but only a problem when too many sporulated ocysts (eggs) have been ingested. Keeping bedding dry with plenty of space and clean water (meaning poo free because dirt is irrelevant) are usually enough to prevent it.

Speaking of dirt, it's a great time to add in a clod/clump of dirt, grass and all, if you haven't already. It will be great enrichment, give them some natural grit, and also a LITTLE exposure to the things in you soil (like other strains of coccidia) before they go out full time to help them build natural immunity. There should have been enough time by this age for all vaccines to be set up if any were used.

Hope this helps!
Chicken learning never stops, happy adventures!

That poop article is really really gross but VERY helpful. Lol! I had a question about my 8 day old babies and the article answered it. They're very healthy and have normal poop.