Chicken with very soft stool

[photocrazy84]

Good morning. We are new to chickens about 4-5 weeks now (they are 1 years old). One of my hens has very liquid stool, its getting her feathers pretty dirty. Shes acting normal, eating and drinking well. I started them on probiotics and Electrolytes daily. I give herbs and pepper flakes in there grain mix, Is there anything else I can do for her? The lady I got them from said I could deworm but didn't say with what or how much? Thanks for any advice

 

[nuthatched]

Stop the herbs and pepper, it won't help and can harm them.
What is their main diet?
You can use a broad spectrum dewormer such as safe guard or valbzen.

 

[coach723]

If it's very hot where you are then the runny droppings could be from drinking a lot of water trying to stay cool. Lots of things can cause runny droppings, it may or may not be something to worry about. If she's laying, eating, drinking, acting normally, then if you can get a fecal float test done, that will check for internal parasites. Alternately you could just worm her (it's very safe) and see if it helps clear it up. Internal parasites are much more common that many people realize, they are constantly digging up and eating things off the ground, and you will most often not every see anything in a dropping. Runny or mucousy dropping, or increased intestinal shed in the droppings can be an indication of parasites. I would try to clean her up if it's real messy, particularly if you have flies. If flies find her they can lay eggs in the droppings built up around the vent feathers, and when they hatch the larvae (maggots) will feed on the live bird. That is called fly strike and it's life threatening. If she's chronically dirty back there you can trim the feathers back with a small pair of scissors to help keep it from getting as bad.

 

[photocrazy84]

If it's very hot where you are then the runny droppings could be from drinking a lot of water trying to stay cool. Lots of things can cause runny droppings, it may or may not be something to worry about. If she's laying, eating, drinking, acting normally, then if you can get a fecal float test done, that will check for internal parasites. Alternately you could just worm her (it's very safe) and see if it helps clear it up. Internal parasites are much more common that many people realize, they are constantly digging up and eating things off the ground, and you will most often not every see anything in a dropping. Runny or mucousy dropping, or increased intestinal shed in the droppings can be an indication of parasites. I would try to clean her up if it's real messy, particularly if you have flies. If flies find her they can lay eggs in the droppings built up around the vent feathers, and when they hatch the larvae (maggots) will feed on the live bird. That is called fly strike and it's life threatening. If she's chronically dirty back there you can trim the feathers back with a small pair of scissors to help keep it from getting as bad.

Thank you , i will deworm them and see if that helps. right now its cool by us but will be very hot next week. i will clean her up again, i was very worried about the flys

 

[photocrazy84]

Stop the herbs and pepper, it won't help and can harm them.
What is their main diet?
You can use a broad spectrum dewormer such as safe guard or valbzen.

Hi, do you have a dose for the safe guard ? thanks

 

[coach723]

Do you have the liquid goat wormer?
It's 0.25 ml per pound of body weight, dose once a day for 5 days in a row, given orally.

 

[photocrazy84]

Stop the herbs and pepper, it won't help and can harm them.
What is their main diet?
You can use a broad spectrum dewormer such as safe guard or valbzen.

The goat dewormer right ? and they are all laying do you know how long i need to toss eggs for ? thanks for the info

 

[coach723]

Yes, if you are worried about withdrawl it's recommended that you toss eggs for 14 days following dose. The residual is very likely minute, but do what you are comfortable with.
The liquid goat wormer is usually available locally, you can also use the horse paste at the same dosing.
Valbazen is labeled for cattle and usually has to be ordered online. It's also a very good wormer, dosing is different.

 

[photocrazy84]

Do you have the liquid goat wormer?
It's 0.25 ml per pound of body weight, dose once a day for 5 days in a row, given orally.

I do ! Should i deworm everyone ? do you toss the eggs for 10-14 days ?

 

[photocrazy84]

Yes, if you are worried about withdrawl it's recommended that you toss eggs for 14 days following dose. The residual is very likely minute, but do what you are comfortable with.
The liquid goat wormer is usually available locally, you can also use the horse paste at the same dosing.
Valbazen is labeled for cattle and usually has to be ordered online. It's also a very good wormer, dosing is different.

thank you