Diarrhea

[GregM]

My family and I are first-time chick-raisers. We have 9 two-week old chicks and until this morning everything has been going by the book. Today, however, I noticed several chicks have very loose, runny stools and the odor in the brooder is definitely "stonger." I clean out the brooder at least twice a day and put down new paper towels and clean out the water and food supply. Could this be a stress issue, a disease issue, a temperature issue, or something else entirely? Can anyone give me some idea as to whether I am overreacting or do I have a problem that needs addressing - and if so, what do you recommend as a remedy? Thanks in advance for the help.

GregM

 

[CityClucks]

Are you feeding them anything besides chick starter? Any treats? Sometimes if you introduce treats they start having different poo.

 

[GregM]

Nope, no treats. Just chick starter and straight water. Thanks for the quick reply. We'd hate to lose any of these girls.

 

[CBee]

Some of my 3 week old chicks are having loose, runny stool right now as well. At first I thought it might be the treats, but when we took them off of the treats last week to see we found that it's still been going on. I'm going to go to the Co-op Monday to get a couple de-wormers, because I've heard that worms can create runny stool in chicks. Maybe you're having the same issue?

 

[gritsar]

Are the loose stools all the time or just every once in awhile? Do the stools look like melted chocolate?
You could be noticing cecal stools which are normal and happen about every 6th movement:

http://www.chat.allotment.org.uk/index.php?topic=17568.0

CBee, just MHO here but I would definitely NOT worm three week old chicks. Much too hard on their systems.

 

[GregM]

Gritsar:
Yes! The loose stools do look like melted chocolate (the idea kind of puts me off chocolate, actually ...) and they do seem to come and go. That makes good sense since the remainder of their behavior appears normal. Thanks for the advice.

 

[AnKa]

I just noticed one of those chocolate stools and that's why I read this post. I am really glad I did!