Dark Chick Poop?

[ShawnaScott]

I noticed today that some of my chicks had dark poop yesterday, I have been searching for an answer to no avail. It is a dark reddish brown. I have picked it up and checked, but it doesn't look like blood or smell like blood. I did find a post where someone was feeding her chicks a handful of mealworms a day, and the excess protein caused it. I am new to chickens, and I have been giving mine about a handful a day split between twelve chicks. Would this be causing it or should I go ahead and treat as if it were definately bloody stool?

 

[snowflake]

I noticed today that some of my chicks had dark poop yesterday, I have been searching for an answer to no avail. It is a dark reddish brown. I have picked it up and checked, but it doesn't look like blood or smell like blood. I did find a post where someone was feeding her chicks a handful of mealworms a day, and the excess protein caused it. I am new to chickens, and I have been giving mine about a handful a day split between twelve chicks. Would this be causing it or should I go ahead and treat as if it were definately bloody stool?

how old are they??
It could be cocci, you won't always see blood, have you treated for cocci? also if you type in chicken poo chart you should have a chart come up that has very good pics of the "normal range of poo" I have had chickens for 5 yrs and it still puzzles me as so many different looks are "normal"
you can treat with Corrid for cocci but if you are using medicated feed they are getting treated already.there is a sight for med amts for chickens also, as most meds used on chickens are off label.
Good luck, hope this helped a little

 

[hrhta812]

Here's a link to pics and info about poop and what's causing the abnormality: http://chat.allotment.org/index.php?topic=17568.0

Everything you ever wanted to know about chicken poop and then some. LOL

 

[appps]

Mine when younger used to have a reddish brown poop every so many. I was told it was normal. Oh and never fed meal worms.

Check that link above