@ChurkLover: They are eating Purina Start & Grow (Medicated which I bought myself and non-medicated-which is the first bag I recieved free with the chicks). Their bedding is Drynest Pine Shavings, and they are using a metal feeder for their food and a self-watering dispenser, both of which I have raised up higher off the floor with large shallow bowls in Ziplock bags under each to compensate for their growing size. They are living in the house, in a 4ft long x 3ft. high x 2ft. wide wooden crate (Which I lined with a large cardboard box, and large paper garbage bags that I cut to fit, and about 2 inches of the shavings on top of that. When I totally clean their crate (which is every other day) I take the chicks out and put them in a box with shavings in that, remove the food and water dispensers, then I just carefully roll up the paper garbage bag with all the soiled shavings and dump it into a garbage bag to take to the town dump. Replace with another paper garbage bag cut open to fit, and the shavings etc. etc. I then clean out both dispensers with a mild detergent and water (thoroughly rinsing), refill them and put them and the chicks back into the crate.
Unfortunately, I haven't found anyone who really knows anything about chicken poop in town, but the chicks are still lively and seem to be thriving. I'm thinking that it might be what Tala said:
"Probably cecal poop, it's often runnier than their usual, kinda orange colored, and lots smellier. Adult chickens do it too, but since chicks are smaller they do it much more often. You're probably seeing them "half dry" is why they look darker brownish red. It's perfectly normal.
Cocci usually shows up as blood in the poop, and the chicks act sickly.
Thank you Tala for your posting, it makes sense to what is happening with my chicks. Yes, it is EXTREMELY stinky stuff, and I've had to wash numerous chick feet. I stood and watched the chicks for over an hour, until each one pooped at least once. The nasty droppings, did not reappear, each one had "normal" looking poop! Crazy, I thought. Then it wasn't about a few hours later did I notice the nasty droppings. I continued to keep a hawks eye on them for a few more days. I've come to the conclusion that they seem to do this regularly, and I couldn't tell you how relieved I felt! Since it was the first time noticing those kind of droppings, I was so worried they were going to drop like flies, from what I read on Coccsidiosis! Lol, I feel almost silly now, freaking out about it. The chicks are sprouting feathers left and right now and are growing like fluffy weeds, running around their crate chirping away!
