BC Maran with diarrhea

[foodisrx]

I recently took in 2 BC marans and a wheaton maran from a local chicken owner along with a buff Orpington. They were all hatched this year. I have quarantined them for a couple of months now. They eat and drink fine, scratch around, preen, lay, basically act fairly normal.

There are a few things I am puzzled by:

They periodically sneeze: just one sneeze. No runny nose, eyes, etc. No gaping or gasping, just a short sneeze. I had read that Vit D deficiencies can cause this so just I started them on Cod Liver oil. The previous owner had been confined on a dirt area with no access to grass. When we got them home and put them in a small area with grass they went nuts. Couldn't get enough greens.

Diarrhea: We brought them home in a large cardboard box in the back seat of the car. My son and I were gagging by the time we got home from the smell of the poop. I wasn't sure what the cause of this was but started them on antibiotic (tetracycaline) asap and followed with yogurt. They originally head really watery poop, now it more solid but not typical chicken poop look. It's yellowish and still not well formed.

One of the hen's comb has turned a lighter color though she still is laying, eating, drinking, scratching, preening just fine and shows no sign of molting.

I've also dusted them with DE for mites (haven't seen any)

We are very new to chickens and this kind of seems overwhelming trying to diagnose and treat these issues. Any help or suggestions would be deeply appreciated.
Thanks

 

[Chicken Chat]

Sounds like you have things in hand. Check out this site, it's a poop chart, very handy. http://www.chat.allotment.org.uk/index.php?topic=17568.0

 

[foodisrx]

Quote:
Whoa!

I had no idea there was such a range of "normal" chicken doocoo. LOL I never thought I would be studying chicken poop, but I love my girls and anything in the line of duty.

I checked them this morning and it looks like only one has loose stools, the hen with the faded looking comb. The buff Orpington sneezed once, but is acting just fine. I also started them all on vitamins in the water. Should I add ACV? I buy it by the gallons from Azure Standard so I have plenty, just don't know if it would help.

 

[feathersnuggles]

ACV is a good PH balancer for them, good for the gut, and it helps keep some crops problems at bay. Definitely use it in their waterer -- but only in a non-metal waterer.

ETA: A few of my chickens sneeze, now & then. It's environmental, I assume, because they don't have runny eyes or nose. Also a lighter comb might indicate your hen is going into a mini-molt. I didn't know about those, until my 7 month old Marans started a mini-molt in November. She eventually stopped laying and her comb has lightened in color. She's dropping feathers occasionally, but, in her case, I upped the protein snacks, to help ease her through the molt.

 

[Chicken Chat]

The ACV in the water couldn't hurt. I don't think I would mix it with the vitamins in the same water. I give my chicks and chickens 1 Tablespoon per gallon of water if they sniffle or sneeze, it clears it right up. Be sure to not use it in a metal bowl, and it needs to be the organic kind, the one with the mother in it.
If you haven't already done so, you might want to stop the anitbiotics until you can figure out what it is, its hard on the gut, kills the beneficial flora. The yogurt is good for that, helps bring good flora back in.

 

[foodisrx]

Quote:
Thanks FS, and "howdie" from an other Washingtonian: originally from Seattle but up in Skagit county now--couldn't handle the traffic!

I would have put it in the metal one had you not given me a heads up.

 

[foodisrx]

Quote:
I stopped the antibiotics two days ago, it didn't seem to be helping much. I have been giving them plain cooked oatmeal with cod liver oil, eggs, and yogurt. Boy do they chow down. I been giving it to them a little on the warm side since we have had freezing weather the last couple of days.

i buy Braggs in the gallon jug so it is raw, organic ACV. (I drink it by the gallons) so I will put some in their waterers when I wash them out today.

Thanks!

 

[Chicken Chat]

Sounds like you are on top of things. Maybe they just need a little while till all the good things you are doing for them kicks in. Sounds like they have a good chicken mommy. Good luck.

 

[feathersnuggles]

Yep, I agree those lucky chickens landed in a good home! Hi & welcome, btw, from West Seattle.

Couldn't agree more about the traffic. And your chicken's warm breakfast sounds like mine, LOL.