Diarrhea in Chicks

[Jewellan]

I got up this morning and saw (and smelled) some diarrhea in the brooder. My chicks are 4 weeks old and I gave them some wheat bread yesterday. Not a lot. A small bite for each of them. Could this have caused it and should I be concerned? they seem very active and alert other than the Runny POO.

 

[gander007]

For a treat you should try a hard boiled egg not industry bread with preservatives ,,, If you need to feed bread get some flower yest a little salt water a little oil and a few egg's and I like to double my egg;s in the makings and make some bread you may not like the bread but they will and it can be good for them

 

[Jewellan]

For a treat you should try a hard boiled egg not industry bread with preservatives ,,, If you need to feed bread get some flower yest a little salt water a little oil and a few egg's and I like to double my egg;s in the makings and make some bread you may not like the bread but they will and it can be good for them

Thanks

I never realized that there were preservatives in it. Don't know why ...Duh!

 

[GuineaFowling]

Sometimes chickens poo a really smelly poop that ranges from a darker brown colour to caramel and looks like diarrhea but not as runny (its more of like a pudding consistency, I know gross comparison). That is common in chickens its called cecal poo and they poop them out several times throughout the day. If you have a lot of chicks in the brood then you will have more cecal poop and a stronger smell. If what I described isn't like what your chicks are pooping out than try to give them some yogurt(they love it) and it should wash out their systems.
Good luck!

 

[AVintageLife]

Also, I believe if you are feeding them anything other than chick feed, hard boiled/scrambled eggs, that they will need a little grit as well.

 

[Jewellan]

Sometimes chickens poo a really smelly poop that ranges from a darker brown colour to caramel and looks like diarrhea but not as runny (its more of like a pudding consistency, I know gross comparison). That is common in chickens its called cecal poo and they poop them out several times throughout the day. If you have a lot of chicks in the brood then you will have more cecal poop and a stronger smell. If what I described isn't like what your chicks are pooping out than try to give them some yogurt(they love it) and it should wash out their systems.
Good luck!

It is kind of like what you describe, but I would say a little bit, not much, but a little bit runnier. Good to know though. I was worried.

 

[MotherHen1999]

I hadn't heard of cecal poo but I'm glad to hear it's nothing abnormal or indicative of disease. I've seen quite a bit of this today (6 Rhode Island Reds, est 3-4 wks old) and while I'll still keep checking & cleaning frequently, at least I won't be as actively worried about it. That being said, I've washed two girls' feet today, they walk in it and presumably spread it all over... aaaaargh!!

 

[kat1117]

I'm wondering at 2 weeks old can you give treats and will adding a new food cause diarrhea?

 

[yyz0yyz0]

I'm wondering at 2 weeks old can you give treats and will adding a new food cause diarrhea?

As long as you also give grit or dirt, yes you can give it to them. With a broody hen mine are out in the dirt/grass a couple days after hatching finding their own treats.

 

[kat1117]

Ok thanks