Blood in diarrhea?

[georgieboy11]

I just picked up two barred rock hens yesterday whose owner passed away and the family didn't want them. I noticed as soon as I got them in the car that one or both of them were having diarrhea that smelled a lot worse than normal chicken poop. I noticed that they were on a diet of only layer feed and mealworms and I was thinking maybe that could cause it but then I noticed this morning it looked like there was a little spot of blood in the poop. I am not sure if they are both having diarrhea or if just one is because in their cage there is some normal poops and some diarrhea.

 

[Eggcessive]

Is there some undigested corn in the droppings? Mucus and blood in droppings can be a sign of coccidiosis or enteritis. If you could take in some fresh droppings to a vet, you could ask for a fecal float to look for worms and coccidia, and if possible, a gram stain to look for enteritis. In addition to their feed, I would have separate containers of grit and crushed oyster shell for them when they want it.

If fecals are not available, you could watch their dropping, treat with Corid for possible coccidiosis, and then think about worming them later.

 

[georgieboy11]

Is there some undigested corn in the droppings? Mucus and blood in droppings can be a sign of coccidiosis or enteritis. If you could take in some fresh droppings to a vet, you could ask for a fecal float to look for worms and coccidia, and if possible, a gram stain to look for enteritis. In addition to their feed, I would have separate containers of grit and crushed oyster shell for them when they want it.

If fecals are not available, you could watch their dropping, treat with Corid for possible coccidiosis, and then think about worming them later.

Im not sure if that is corn they pooped out or if its just feed they were scratching around, I just gave them some scratch feed and cracked corn last night as far as I know all they had before that was layer feed. I think I will clean their cage and take out all the food and see if they poop out any corn. I will get them some grit and oyster shells as soon as i can. Where can I get Corid and how would I treat them with it? Also what would be the best way to deworm them? I would love to take droppings to the vet but within 3 hours of me deal with chickens.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Im not sure if that is corn they pooped out or if its just feed they were scratching around, I just gave them some scratch feed and cracked corn last night as far as I know all they had before that was layer feed. I think I will clean their cage and take out all the food and see if they poop out any corn. I will get them some grit and oyster shells as soon as i can. Where can I get Corid and how would I treat them with it? Also what would be the best way to deworm them? I would love to take droppings to the vet but within 3 hours of me deal with chickens.

If they have only been on a diet of layer feed with some mealworms thrown in, it might be better to save anything new until you can figure out what's going on. Layer feed is a nutritionally balanced complete poultry feed. If they are getting some scratch now, then providing a source of grit will be very important. They are most likely stressed with their owner dying and then moving to a new place. Chickens don't like change, so you may at least want to keep their diet consistent.

You can find Corid at most feed stores like Tractor Supply, look in the cattle section.
For deworming, you can use Fenbendazole (safeguard) or Valbazen. If you have a dog or cat vet, see if they will accept a fecal sample and test it for you.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Normal lining shed is pink and stringy. Blood is watery and darker red.

I'm not seeing "blood" in the photos, unless I am simply missing something. I see normal pink lining.

And layer feed is fine for chickens. It is what they should eat. They should also get plenty of room to scratch and forage, but mine eat good quality layer predominately.

Corn is like candy, and should be used sparingly.

You've also moved them which produces some stress, which generally will bring on shed lining.

Since you've got no close vets who treat chickens, you could as a matter of course worm them and treat them with Corid.

You can find Wazine or Safeguard and Corid at your local feed store. If need be, you can mail order it from Amazon or Jeffers Pet.

I personally isolate newly acquired adult birds and place them on medicated chick start to allow their guts time to acclimate to the coccidia in my soil. I watch their droppings carefully for 2 weeks. If there is no sign of rank blood, I remain on the Amprolium based medicated for another 2 weeks, then integrate. If I see rank blood, I begin Corid (higher concentration of Amprolium).

Also look them over for potential external parasites. It is no fun to have to treat the whole flock if your newly acquired birds bring in mites/lice. I also thoroughly dust any newly acquired adult bird in isolation time.

I'll link a poo chart so you can see the differences. Only you can tell what you are looking at as photos can be misleading.

http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/02/whats-scoop-on-chicken-poop-digestive.html

and this one
http://www.fresheggsdaily.com/2016/03/all-about-chicken-poop-brown-black-and.html

 

[georgieboy11]

If they have only been on a diet of layer feed with some mealworms thrown in, it might be better to save anything new until you can figure out what's going on. Layer feed is a nutritionally balanced complete poultry feed. If they are getting some scratch now, then providing a source of grit will be very important. They are most likely stressed with their owner dying and then moving to a new place. Chickens don't like change, so you may at least want to keep their diet consistent.

You can find Corid at most feed stores like Tractor Supply, look in the cattle section.
For deworming, you can use Fenbendazole (safeguard) or Valbazen. If you have a dog or cat vet, see if they will accept a fecal sample and test it for you.

Aw I didnt even think about changing their feed stressing them out, I will switch them back to their layer feed. Thank you very much.

 

[georgieboy11]

Normal lining shed is pink and stringy. Blood is watery and darker red.

I'm not seeing "blood" in the photos, unless I am simply missing something. I see normal pink lining.

And layer feed is fine for chickens. It is what they should eat. They should also get plenty of room to scratch and forage, but mine eat good quality layer predominately.

Corn is like candy, and should be used sparingly.

You've also moved them which produces some stress, which generally will bring on shed lining.

Since you've got no close vets who treat chickens, you could as a matter of course worm them and treat them with Corid.

You can find Wazine or Safeguard and Corid at your local feed store. If need be, you can mail order it from Amazon or Jeffers Pet.

I personally isolate newly acquired adult birds and place them on medicated chick start to allow their guts time to acclimate to the coccidia in my soil. I watch their droppings carefully for 2 weeks. If there is no sign of rank blood, I remain on the Amprolium based medicated for another 2 weeks, then integrate. If I see rank blood, I begin Corid (higher concentration of Amprolium).

Also look them over for potential external parasites. It is no fun to have to treat the whole flock if your newly acquired birds bring in mites/lice. I also thoroughly dust any newly acquired adult bird in isolation time.

I'll link a poo chart so you can see the differences. Only you can tell what you are looking at as photos can be misleading.

http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/02/whats-scoop-on-chicken-poop-digestive.html

and this one
http://www.fresheggsdaily.com/2016/03/all-about-chicken-poop-brown-black-and.html

Thank you very much! I was not aware that they shed lining when stressed. I also didn't know it was ok for them to just have layer feed. I'm so glad I joined here so I can learn the right way to take care of them. I am ordering Safeguard and Corid for them and I am planning on dusting them with sevin dust incase they have any mites.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Aw I didnt even think about changing their feed stressing them out, I will switch them back to their layer feed. Thank you very much.

It's really o.k! While you're at it, if you brought the feed that they were eating home with you, take a good look at it, maybe smell it or if you have the bag look at the mill date. Could possibly the feed they had be old, moldy or rancid.

The poop that you posted, at least to me, is not "normal" I do agree that the red you saw was intestinal shedding which could be due to stress, but the poop also looks like it has a lot of mucous in it.

You're doing fine, I'm sure it's all a bit new for everyone - you and the 2 ladies that you brought home - are these the girls? https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/barred-rock.1219570/ quite lovely Barred Rocks