Bloody Poo what should I do?

[LydiaT]

Hi, My chicken seems to be acting completely normal but she did this bloody poop that looks like tomato sauce, should I be worried?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I can't tell the true color of the poo from my monitor, so I will link a poo chart for you to compare with what you saw.

From the photo, on my monitor, it looks like normal cecal; however, if it is more of a frank red, then it could indeed be blood.

For that, you would need to put the whole flock on Corid according to the package for chickens.

Bloody poo is a sign of coccidiosis. While it normally hits younger birds, any bird can succumb to it if the conditions are right.

Coccidiosis is overgrowth of a protozoa which is ever present in the soil. In healthy birds, the balance is kept in the gut so no harm is done. But if the balance gets out of hand and there is an overgrowth due to weakened immune system or environmental conditions, you've got a serious disease on your hands which can kill birds rather quickly. (It's basically chicken dysentery).

But again, you'll have to compare what you saw with the poo chart below to tell if the color is more rusty cecal color or truly red blood.

LofMc

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

And another one from the Poultry Help Forum (for comparison of cecal types)
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=17568.0

 

[LydiaT]

Thanks for your help, the colour didn't quite match with any in the charts and the consistency was thicker than I'd expect blood to be. But it is more red than brown so should I treat my flock for coccidiosis just in case?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Another thought, do you have berries around? or any food source that would create red tones?

She may have eaten something that made a funny color in her poo. Berries and red cabbage and beets can do that.

It wouldn't hurt to treat everyone with a round if Corid, but I hate to do so if it isn't necessary.

If she looks at all ruffled, lethargic, or pale combed, or has any more funny poo, or anyone else does, definitely treat.

Otherwise, I'm thinking it is likely food related or normal fecal...but watch closely. Clean and change out your water sources. Make sure you don't have soggy ground around them.

If you have serious doubt, treat.

LofMc

 

[LydiaT]

Ok, I'll keep an eye on her. Thanks for all your help