Chicken stress

[KatM41]

Can you post photos of them? Photos of the poop?
How long has it been since you moved them outside?
What did you worm them with - name/dosage?
What are you feeding, including treats?
What is your space like - square footage of coop and run?

Stress can make for loose stool, but you will want to evaluate your space as well.
If you have a cockerel that is getting hormonal that can also cause some stress.

With more information and photos we may be able to give you some suggestions.

I would have taken pics of the poo but it may have to wait. I didn't see anything abnormal yesterday. Maybe I jumped the gun. even the little Orpington had pink back on her comb.

 

[KatM41]

How long were they on layer feed before you switched back to grower/finisher?

Piperazine will treat roundworms only. At that age, it's possible for them to have worms, but if possible get a fecal float just to confirm if they do have them and what type.

I would offer them poultry vitamins instead of something like brown rice to replace vitamins if you feel they need them. That's just me though. If the rice is given as a treat, then all is well

It was about two weeks. I was just worried they were getting too much protein. HOnestly I don't think it's that big of a deal. But, in the effort to try to fix issues I went ahead and switched the food. The poop looked normal yesterday, but I inspect everyday. I do notice that squash changes the color too. And I know who ate most of the squash LOL I'll pick up the vitamins next trip to TSC. Vet isn't an option. If this doesn't kick it I'll treat them for Tapeworms. I did check their vents the other day and everything looked normal and clean. Maybe the whole thing is a fluke. I just can't figure out why the little Orp isn't gaining weight.

So it only appears one rooster?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

It was about two weeks. I was just worried they were getting too much protein.

What % protein is the grower?
I would keep them at 18-20% until they are laying - they still have some growing left to do, then if you want, you could switch to a layer. 16% is usually the minimum in layer feed.
Keep in mind that anything else they eat besides their food may dilute their daily nutritional intake.
I love to give mine treats as well, but try to limit them. Usually no more than 5-10% of their daily intake.

To really know if she is gaining/losing, weigh her. Then at least once a week weigh her again.

Yes, to me you only have one boy!

 

[EggWalrus]

To weigh her you may have to weigh yourself on the bathroom scale, then weigh you and her together. The difference is what she weighs.
But just remember a week later to weigh both again, you may have lost/gained a few pounds.
Good luck

 

[aart]

To weigh her you may have to weigh yourself on the bathroom scale, then weigh you and her together.

This may well not be accurate enough to measure weight of a chicken with issues.
You'll want to weigh in ounces if not grams.
A kitchen scale would be better, tho trickier.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-for-weighing-chickens.1095781/#post-16842470
Some folks use bowls or bags to hold chicken...do a search.

 

[Shadrach]

It was about two weeks. I was just worried they were getting too much protein. HOnestly I don't think it's that big of a deal. But, in the effort to try to fix issues I went ahead and switched the food. The poop looked normal yesterday, but I inspect everyday. I do notice that squash changes the color too. And I know who ate most of the squash LOL I'll pick up the vitamins next trip to TSC. Vet isn't an option. If this doesn't kick it I'll treat them for Tapeworms. I did check their vents the other day and everything looked normal and clean. Maybe the whole thing is a fluke. I just can't figure out why the little Orp isn't gaining weight.

So it only appears one rooster?

I’m not absolutely sure about this.
With humans excess protein is excreted. The digestive system can only process a certain amount in a given time period. I think for the average human its something like 30 grams over a two hour digestive period assuming all the necessary digestive enzymes are available.
I believe chickens are the same in this respect. You could, although it would be wasteful feed chickens a much larger proportion of protein in their diet without any negative health issues. They will excrete what they can’t use. What an excess of protein will do is alter the consistence of the droppings. There are some vitamins and minerals such as iron and calcium that the body will store and it is possible to ‘overdose’ on such compounds.
I recommend Flubendazole as a ‘safe’ all round wormer.
Bear in mind that what a chicken excretes will vary enormously depending on what they’ve eaten. Here the chickens (they free range) produce such a wide range of droppings that I would drive myself mad if they did not all look ‘perfect’.

 

[KatM41]

Thanks for the advice folks. I went back down on their feed already which sits around 15%. Been alot going on in the coop. We have had so MUCH rain this year! So now Im looking at mulch or wood chips to toss on in the coop to help keep it dry. I'm using diatomaceous earth in their feed, run and house. My rooster shed some water poo this morning. And now I'm looking up parasites and I don't know how people sleep at night with all these things tryiing to take out their chickens! This is worse than having kids!

I know it'll settle down here soon and I know over time I'll just shrug my shoulders, but dang this is alot to take in. Peanut the chicken that looked a little thin actually looked pretty good yesterday. Her comb was a bit rosey and she looked a little fluffier. Also, there seems to be some moulting going on. So maybe there's just a lot for my chickens too. I'm keeping lists of everything you guys are saying too, so don't think I'm not paying attention. my fiance is hispanic, and tells me all the time, I don't get you white people, we just toss the chickens outside and they're fine. LOL

 

[aart]

I know it'll settle down here soon and I know over time I'll just shrug my shoulders, but dang this is alot to take in.

Yes.....yes, it is! It's like getting a sip of water out of a fire hose!
...and it can be very difficult to separate the wheat from the drama chaff in order to proceed with logic and thus success.

I went back down on their feed already which sits around 15%.

That's too low, IMO, for 15 week old birds.
Go with something around 18-20%.

Tell us more about your coop and the water problems...
...pics would be of great help here.

Oh, and.....
Where in this world are you located?
Climate is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, then it's always there!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I went back down on their feed already which sits around 15%.

So now Im looking at mulch or wood chips to toss on in the coop to help keep it dry. I'm using diatomaceous earth in their feed, run and house. My rooster shed some water poo this morning. And now I'm looking up parasites and I don't know how people sleep at night with all these things tryiing to take out their chickens! This is worse than having kids!

Yes.....yes, it is! It's like getting a sip of water out of a fire hose!
...and it can be very difficult to separate the wheat from the drama chaff in order to proceed with logic and thus success.

That's too low, IMO, for 15 week old birds.
Go with something around 18-20%.

Tell us more about your coop and the water problems...
...pics would be of great help here.

Oh, and.....
Where in this world are you located?
Climate is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, then it's always there!
View attachment 1596010

I agree with @aart the % is too low for their age, get something 18-20%
Chick Starter or Flock Raiser is usually what can be found at most Tractor Supply stores.
Also I would not add DE to their feed, most commercial feeds actually have a small amount already added (I've seen on the label of Purina Feeds) this is to help control grain bugs(?)
As for if DE is beneficially as a feed supplement, I will let you do the research on that

At only 12wks old, they can possibly have a worm load but I think if you will get your food and housing straightened out you will see a difference in the poop and growth.

 

[aart]

(I've seen on the label of Purina Feeds) this is to help control grain bugs(?)

Yes. Only thing DE is really good for IMO.