Clostridium Perfringens?

[SurferchickinSB]

I hope some of you can give me an opinion on my situation. I have seen watery stools for the past couple weeks on the poop board and now I know which chicken is having this white watery diarrhea. I have searched the Internet and I think this is what is going on, but not sure if this may be Clostridium Perfringens? This is my favorite chicken and she is going through a very hard molt. Does this look like something really serious or do you think it could be related to the stress of the molt? What should I do to help her? I am really hesitant to pick her up right now because she is covered in pinfeathers and I don’t want to hurt her. I don’t want to lose her! Here are some photos, please give me some input into what I should do for her. The whole curtain is damp with a watery liquid and the vinyl under 2 sheets of newspaper is even wet. The liquid does not smell. I don’t know if this could have something to do with it, but I added two day old chicks to my flock back in July and had to switch them all to starter feed.Thanks for any advice or insight you can give me into what is going on and what I should do.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Can you take some samples to your vet for testing?

What are you feeding now?
Molting can be hard on them. I usually give mine a little extra protein a couple of times a week and the ones that have a harder time, I direct dose them with Poultry Cell (or a similar poultry vitamin) a couple of times a week too.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Yes, I can take some samples to my vet tomorrow. I am feeding them chick starter still because I have the two that are only 12 weeks old now. I was under the impression that chick starter is good for them when they are going through molt because it is higher in protein. I have been putting apple cider vinegar in their water the past couple days and today I added some probiotic and save a chick electrolyte powder.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Yes, I can take some samples to my vet tomorrow. I am feeding them chick starter still because I have the two that are only 10 weeks old now. I was under the impression that chick starter is good for them when they are going through molt because it is higher in protein. I have been putting apple cider vinegar in their water the past couple days and today I added some probiotic and save a chick electrolyte powder.

Hopefully it’s just because she hasn’t been eating as much because of the molt, as you can see she looks horrible! She is usually a very beautiful chicken.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Molt is tough on birds really messes with them and yes agree with @Wyorp Rock I have done oatmeal with yogurt when I do I stick some uncooked to give a little crunch also alls we can do is let them be please do not medicate further just let her get through it they do it like every 18 months

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Molt is tough on birds really messes with them and yes agree with @Wyorp Rock I have done oatmeal with yogurt when I do I stick some uncooked to give a little crunch also alls we can do is let them be please do not medicate further just let her get through it they do it like every 18 months

Yeah, I’m just worried about the watery poo. Now that I have figured it is only coming from her. All her poo is watery and I’m worried she could get dehydrated.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I noticed something similar with my Brahma who looks as though a little kid tried took scissors to her feathers. Poor thing! If it is just an icky molt, then I feel better about her poop.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

I noticed something similar with my Brahma who looks as though a little kid tried took scissors to her feathers. Poor thing! If it is just an icky molt, then I feel better about her poop.

Did your Brahma get diarrhea during her molt? Half my chickens are molting, but I don’t think any of them have as watery of poo as she does.

 

[Eggcessive]

Do you ever feed them chicken feed mixed with water? Mine love that, especially right now that many are molting, but it does give them more runny poops. It wouldmbebhard to diagnose C. perfringens without a fecal test, perhaps a gram stain. Ask specifically how to get that done. Vets are not usually allowed to treat a chicken without seeing them, but maybe a regular vet would run a test as a favor. They probably would not be willing to treat with drugs unless they see them though. It is usually a state law.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Did your Brahma get diarrhea during her molt? Half my chickens are molting, but I don’t think any of them have as watery of poo as she does.

Yes. I wasn't even sure it was her at first, so I sat out there with them, waiting for them to poop - LOL! You know you're a crazy chicken lady if...

She's still in molt and still has the watery poop (though some days are better than others). I was thinking I will send in her poop in for a fecal float, just to be safe. Gosh, I hope that the molt is what's causing it. She's been extra grumpy, too.