Black poop

[sarahjessica]

Lately some of my chickens have had black, occasionally waterish poop. I wasn't concerned because they all seem so healthy and happy! Friendliest chickens ever. But anyhow, i was wondering if me feeding them dark greens could cause this to happen, because they eat an infinite amount of kale. They have never been wormed, my parents don't think it's necessary. ( I'm 18, living at home ). Maybe they should be? I'm not sure. All the farmers I know don't really do that with their chickens.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Do they eat woodstove ashes or charcoal? That will turn the poo black (it's OK).

It can also be "old blood" as it works its way down the gut.

http://chat.allotment.org/index.php?topic=17568.0
Here is the poo page - see if the diarrhea looks like a normal caecal poo to you. If it is truly watery then either they are drinking lots of water from the heat (normal) or it could be illness or worms (or diet as you said).

I don't know about the greens. If I feed too much fruit it DOES give the hens the watery runs for a day or so.

Oh and you might want to edit your post to remove your age, since BYC tries to protect minors here by not discussing age at all - even for those who are not minors, as that encourages them to post their age, as well.

 

[Farmer Viola]

When I fed my girls red cabbage, their poop turned bright green and I thought it was the chickenpocalypse. Turns out purple colored cabbage goes florescent when digested? Anyway, I think it could be the kale - stop giving it for a day and find out. They poop what they eat within a very short time, so it should be easy to tell.

Black poop could also be dried blood potentially, but usually chickens poop red blood when they have internal bleeding. It doesn't have far to travel, not enough time for blood to dry and turn black.