Black Ashy Poop

[Suzmv]

 

[Suzmv]

Please help. I have a hen pooping this black ashy poop. It's been going on for a few days. I don't know which hen it is, no one is showing any signs of illness. I looked up Poo on this sight but didn't see any pictures like this.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

@azygous @casportpony can you guys help?

 

[casportpony]

What have they been eating? Can you take some of that dark poop, smear it on a white paper towel and post new pictures?

 

[Suzmv]

What have they been eating? Can you take some of that dark poop, smear it on a white paper towel and post new pictures?

They have been having blueberries, but other than that it's their laying feed, grass, watermelon and occasional leftover veggies. Nothing blue, black or purple other than the blue berries. When it dries it's dark gray and chalking.

I'll add a pic

 

[casportpony]

They have been having blueberries, but other than that it's their laying feed, grass, watermelon and occasional leftover veggies. Nothing blue, black or purple other than the blue berries. When it dries it's dark gray and chalking.

I'll add a pic

Withhold blueberries and see if they start pooping normal colors again in a day or two.

 

[Suzmv]

i will. Thank you.

 

[azygous]

Blue berries certainly will color the poop. So will wood ash if you've been adding it to their dirt bathing spots. My chickens ingest the wood ash particles as they dirt bathe. It results in coal black poops. Nothing to be concerned about.

Try feeding your chickens purple cabbage. Then watch for the neon-purple poop. That's even more shocking than black poop.

 

[micstrachan]

My chickens poop like that if they've eaten an abundance of earthworms. Berry poop can look grey/purple/black, too. I'll be interested to see if the color persists after you withhold the berries.

 

[townchicks]

My first thought when I saw the pic was they must be eating blueberries. Kept scrolling, and yes, they are. Pretty sure that's the cause, but just want to add, black poop can also be a sign of internal bleeding. If it doesn't clear up, or one of the hens starts acting off, consider taking a fecal sample to a vet, and asking for an occult blood test to be run on the fecal.