Cecal or Disease?

[ChickenKeeper43]

Saw my Buff Orpington poop this today, I've seen it around the coop sometimes too but I'm not sure which chicken it’s usually from or if all are doing it sometimes.

Usually I see my chickens poop out regular droppings and these ones aren't as common to find.

I was wondering if this is just cecal droppings or is it something worse that one of my chickens can be suffering from? It also has a very foul smell.

 

[Tookie]

Yes, that's cecal, completely normal! You see it less often because they don't do those ones as much. And yes they do smell a lot, cecal has the worst smell, lol!

 

[ChickenKeeper43]

Yes, that's cecal, completely normal! You see it less often because they don't do those ones as much. And yes they do smell a lot, cecal has the worst smell, lol!

Thanks, I was worried it was something else.

 

[Tookie]

Thanks, I was worried it was something else.

I understand! Lots of people get worried when they see cecal, but then come to find out its normal.

 

[ChickenKeeper43]

I understand! Lots of people get worried when they see cecal, but then come to find out its normal.

Someone on reddit said: “cecal is supposed to be smooth and closer to chocolatey-brown in color. it being pale and foamy is concerning if you're seeing it regularly!

if you only see it once in a while it might be an odd diet-related thing, but if you see it regularly it could be coccidiosis or other internal parasites. i'd assume worms first unless you've seen any blood in their stool”

I’m worried again, is it really worms? If so wouldn’t all my chickens be pooping it regularly.

 

[casportpony]

Do you have any Corid? In my flock, foamy cecal poops mean coccidiosis or worms. I would treat with Corid first, them de-worm.

 

[ChickenKeeper43]

Do you have any Corid? In my flock, foamy cecal poops mean coccidiosis or worms. I would treat with Corid first, them de-worm.

No, I don’t have any. if it’s worms or cocci, wouldn’t it have spread to all hens by now and they wouldn’t be pooping regular poop?

 

[Perris]

caecal poops vary hugely, because the particular species of microbes that inhabit the caeca vary hugely, between birds, and over time. I think that's a normal caecal poop.

 

[Tookie]

Someone on reddit said: “cecal is supposed to be smooth and closer to chocolatey-brown in color. it being pale and foamy is concerning if you're seeing it regularly!

if you only see it once in a while it might be an odd diet-related thing, but if you see it regularly it could be coccidiosis or other internal parasites. i'd assume worms first unless you've seen any blood in their stool”

I’m worried again, is it really worms? If so wouldn’t all my chickens be pooping it regularly.

I think it’s normal and nothing to worry about, I’ve seen foamy light brown ones in my flock, and like @Perris said they very hugely. If your flock is acting normal, there’s no bloody droppings, and worms aren’t visible in the droppings, I think they’re likely fine.

 

[ChickenKeeper43]

caecal poops vary hugely, because the particular species of microbes that inhabit the caeca vary hugely, between birds, and over time. I think that's a normal caecal poop.

Here’s some poop from a different hen, is this normal?