Coop/Run too Clean?.....What am I doing wrong???

[winekntrychicks]

I know this sounds like a stupid question, but my chickens seem to be sick once again. I cleaned out the deep litter after about 3.5 months, put down a light sprinkling of Sevin dust in corners, fresh litter in the coop. In the run (dirt floor) I scoop poo 2 sometimes 3 times a day. Is it possible that they are not building immunities....this is the second time in 4 weeks their poo looks loose, spongie, some copper green in color, and smells quite different than normal. They do not get to free range due to hawks. I have read on other posts that people have been on fixed runs and coops for years with no problems. One person said 30 years for him......what am i doing wrong???

 

[BayCityBabe]

Are they really sick? Sometimes mine have weird poops from whatever they are eating: this week it's pumpkin. Lots of brown/beige poops.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Yeah, mine get some weird looking poo droppings but they do free range. Sometimes the smell can knock your socks off! Right now I have a few droopy roos but I figure that is from the weather change, it has gotten cold here in the past week and they patrol all night.

If your chickens are eating and drinking and pecking around as normal, I wouldn't worry about the funny looking poo.
If you do want to try some new ideas, or maybe not new for you, use red pepper flakes in their food and put vinegar/garlic in their drinking water. Make sure they have plenty of grit and give them a bit of alfalfa hay.

There are lots of things you could try but mainly, stop cleaning up after them so much! Geez, mine are near on to nasty and so far have been very healthy! (Knock on wood) I'm all for not being as clean as society dictates. My family is never sick and my house is a mess.

 

[SterlingAcres]

Quote:
x2.
I'd say lay off cleaning the run so much. The coop itself sounds fine. I've been building my deep litter since August with no problems or smells. I rake the run free of droppings and such once a week or so. So far, no problems.

Good luck!

 

[winekntrychicks]

Quote:
Not really sick, They are clucking around, digging and such.