"If the OP had included the information that the bird was acting unwell rather than just the poop picture, then diagnosis/suggested course of action would have been different. We all try to help each other here but we can only be as good as the information provided, allows us."
People deceive themselves in the first place, thinking they can "diagnose" anything on here, except for things that are clearly visible such as mite infections and such. Whether the bird is acting unwell or not is irrelevant. As I said in the first post, birds hide their illnesses until they're on their deathbed, so any symptom needs to be taken as their "sign" of sickness. Many people on here think it's relevant that any bird LOOKS sick. This is not the case. If it LOOKS sick, it is nearly dead.
"If everyone who posted here was told to take a sick chicken to a vet then many people would not be part of the forum as lots join specifically because they need help/advice/support with a sick chicken."
True, and so what? The world doesn't revolve around this forum, and what they need is medical advice, not a bunch of people who suggest NOT taking it to a vet and want them to hang around here talking to them about whether it has this or that complaint which are all complete guesses. Meanwhile, the bird suffers on, and most times, the owner has no idea it's suffering because it doesn't "look sick". Oh, back to that again.
"This section is also a wonderful learning tool as reading the many threads about different illnesses...."
Not really. There is only so much you can "learn", esp. on a site like this, but anyone who has any education on the subject KNOWS that any bird that is very sick or very badly injured needs to be seen by an avian vet. I'm not talking about a tiny cut or a few mites. Yes, people can give advice about that here, but you will notice that the people who really don't know what they're talking about are the ones suggesting that chatting on here can fix their birds and that they shouldn't be taken to a vet. Even the sticky before this forum says that this forum is NOT a replacement for a vet, and that if the bird looks like it needs to be seen by a vet, then it should be.
"Would you really like to see this whole section replaced with a line that reads " If your chicken is sick, take it to a vet"?"
Yes, it's common sense to anyone who has any understanding of bird health, but as I've said in other posts, two things in fact, "If you can't afford a vet, don't have pets", and secondly, "If you have a pet that needs a vet and can't afford to go, or won't go for whatever reason, hit the animal on the head yourself and be done with it." Letting an animal suffer on and on is not right, nor is it legal or moral. This forum should only be used for basic first aid and minor problems, not for anything major.
"There are many that cannot afford veterinary treatment for their chickens. In such situations it would then be a case of let the chicken live or die perhaps suffering without treatment or euthanize it."
Exactly what I have said on other threads. If you can't afford it, don't have pets. If you can't afford a vet and you need one, euthanize the chicken yourself. People want it both ways. Too tight or can't afford to take the chicken to a vet, but won't euthanize it either. Come to this site, and get encouraged to prolong the suffering more and more.
"Yes there are a few avian vets but often they are hundreds of miles away, so telling people to go to a vet is often not practical."
It amazes me the lengths people go to to justify not seeking a vet's advice. I know for a fact you have a hell of a lot more avian vets in the US than we do in Aust per head of population, but it's funny how the people who want to find one can always manage to do so. There is nothing like a lack of will to make things seem impossible. It takes five seconds to find one on the net. And, I don't suggest taking birds to a normal vet, only avian vets. If none are nearby, at the very least be in touch with one for emergencies by phone.
