Chicks have diarrhea

[ycornelis]

I have 16 babies who are 25 days old today. They are separated into 2 brooders and will be able to go outside to our new coop next week. They have been really healthy until today. I noticed runny brown diarrhea in both brooders and am very concerned. I have been turning off their heat lamp a few hours a day to get them ready for outdoor life and they are all cold hearty girls. Is it possible this was too much stress for them?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have 16 babies who are 25 days old today. They are separated into 2 brooders and will be able to go outside to our new coop next week.

I noticed runny brown diarrhea in both brooders and am very concerned. I have been turning off their heat lamp a few hours a day to get them ready for outdoor life and they are all cold hearty girls. Is it possible this was too much stress for them?

Can you post some photos of the poop, chicks too! and the brooders?

How warm are you keeping the brooders?
Where are you located, what's your weather like?

Runny poop...is Cecal poop by chance?

 

[ycornelis]

Can you post some photos of the poop, chicks too! and the brooders?

How warm are you keeping the brooders?
Where are you located, what's your weather like?

Runny poop...is Cecal poop by chance?

 

[ycornelis]

We live in NW North Carolina and the weather has been crazy as everywhere. We are just barely into spring with average temps of 60-65 degrees but they are still inside the house. We have their temp set at 85 degrees at this time. Sorry, no poop pic. But it is runny and brown.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

They are fairly feathered out, you may want to reduce heat to see if that helps. If too hot they drink a lot which equals runnier poop.

Chickens do have a loose to sometimes runny poop that is Cecal poop - it's sticky and stinky so that would be normal.

Watching behavior is always a good indicator of how they are doing. If active, eating/drinking well then for the most part they are fine. Signs of illness would be lethargy, staying under heat all the time, not eating, acting "off" - this is why observing birds and knowing how each one acts helps you catch things going wrong early.

 

[ycornelis]

Wow, thanks! That helps and other than the poop they are happy little girls! Will raise the lamps higher and keep an eye on them.