Black Chicken Poop! Normal or Internal Bleeding???

[HannahL]

Looks like cecal poop to me, they are often black especially if they've been pecking at the dirt while dust bathing....even more so if dust bath has wood ash in it.

Oh good! And that would make sense since the day that this poop appeared they had been dust bathing ALL day

 

[Saaniya]

How is everyone's body language? I had a hen with black poop, very pale comb and poor body language last summer. Avian vet suspected hardware disease, but an x-ray showed no metal in her system. Her intestines were bloated with gas, and they were a bit perplexed. They prescribed an antibiotic and barium sulfate to coat her intestines. I also started providing cooked beef liver treat. Amazingly, she recovered. Prognosis was not great, and treatment was a bit of an experiment. We lucked out!

I think I narrowed it down to a feed her system did not agree with, but I don't know for sure. I also put some wood ash in part of the run, and they may occasionally eat the larger pieces of wood coal, which could turn poop black, but would not explain her other symptoms.

Is there anything your birds could be eating causing the black poop?

What Antibiotic u used ?

 

[micstrachan]

What Antibiotic u used ?

The vet prescribed amoxicillin. I believe she said it was gentler on the intestines.

 

[micstrachan]

The vet prescribed amoxicillin. I believe she said it was gentler on the intestines.

I forgot to mention, I also administered barium sulfate prescribed by the vet to cost and dooth her intestines. It was a bit of sn experiment, but seemed to help. I mixed it with baby bird formula and fed small volumes incrementally under her tongue. I also provided chopped, cooked beef liver for an iron boost, as the vet indicated she was anemic (which was already obvious from the pale comb).

 

[HollyJane94]

Hi, Hannah. I don't have answers, but I have some questions which, if you answer, will help our experts to help you when they come on, probably in the morning.

So. How old is the hen you suspect dropped this poop? What do you feed, including treats? What antibiotics and anti-inflammatories are you giving, and how long have the hens been on them? How do everyone's combs look? Check for color. Is anyone pale, dark, dusky or bluish? Is anyone's comb floppy? Nobody has nasal or eye discharge?

I can't think of anything else that may be pertinent right now. Thanks and good luck.

Sorry, typos

Hi I wondered if anyone could help.
I have a 2 year old leghorn hen who has been off colour for last 3 weeks. Her comb has flopped to one side and turned pale and purple towards the end. The last 2 days she has had black tar like poop. I have treated for worms and checked for sour crop. She still seems interested in food and water. Does anyone have any idea what this could be?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi I wondered if anyone could help.
I have a 2 year old leghorn hen who has been off colour for last 3 weeks. Her comb has flopped to one side and turned pale and purple towards the end. The last 2 days she has had black tar like poop. I have treated for worms and checked for sour crop. She still seems interested in food and water. Does anyone have any idea what this could be?

Welcome To BYC

Can you post photos of her and her poop?

Is she laying eggs?
How old is she?
What did you deworm her with - product and dosing?
Is she molting?

Hard to tell what's going on with her. Start with supportive care, see that she's drinking and eating, check her for lice/mites and make sure her crop is emptying overnight.

 

[Saaniya]

Hi I wondered if anyone could help.
I have a 2 year old leghorn hen who has been off colour for last 3 weeks. Her comb has flopped to one side and turned pale and purple towards the end. The last 2 days she has had black tar like poop. I have treated for worms and checked for sour crop. She still seems interested in food and water. Does anyone have any idea what this could be?

black poop means melena my teetee died in that

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Melena just means "dark stools," and can have many different causes. In humans drinking Pepto Bismol can cause it and that's not deadly. I don't know who your teetee is but it sounds like intestinal bleeding if they died of it. I'm sorry for your loss.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

How is this chicken doing?

 

[wild oats]

Hmm. Well, I see no one has responded since last night. Let me flag a few of our experts and see if we can get some answers for you.
@Eggcessive
@Wyorp Rock
@aart
@casportpony

Quaker oats are high in glyphosates (roundup use) did you just start feeding those? pomegranate, if new to them might do this as would be excess berries...