Chronic diarrhea

[edmund015]

I've read previous posts, and know this could be any number of things. I'm hoping someone could tell me the best first step. I have three girls, and one has had diarrhea for maybe two months? When I first noticed it, I gave her rice & yogurt, and thought it went away, but I don't think it ever did entirely. She hasn't shown any other signs of illness, and the the other two hens are completely fine. The diarrhea is the same colour as normal stool, just looser. Could it be worms?

Thank you!

 

[sammi]

best way to know is to take a fecal sample to a vet for worm and protozoa test
other bacterial tests can be done..

what all do you feed?

 

[mjelse]

I always seem to have a few hens like that. I have had them tested, which of course you should too. The tests were negative for the common parasites. If I feed them yogurt often the diarrhea is decreased. Every time I stop feeding yogurt, it comes back.

You can make your own yogurt to reduce the cost. You can also buy "probiotics" for birds, those are a stronger dose of the same or similar bacteria.