Diarrhea

[myawesomepullets]

So I have a chicken that's had diarrhea for 2 months now. She seems otherwise okay, completely normal, and eating plenty (I checked her crop in the night and then the morning after, it's filling up and emptying). Another one of my chickens recently started to have diarrhea. Again, she seems completely fine, but it's not normal poop. I'm not sure if I should be worried or not, and if it's not good, then what should I do?

 

[aart]

Pics always help.
As well as knowing what all and how exactly are you feeding?
I have a few juicy poopers, evidence on the poop boards in the morning,
otherwise they all seem fine.<shrugs>

 

[TheAlrightyGina]

Pics always help.
As well as knowing what all and how exactly are you feeding?
I have a few juicy poopers, evidence on the poop boards in the morning,
otherwise they all seem fine.<shrugs>

Did you have to say "juicy"?!

Honestly that's a long time to be sick, so it may just be some kind of sensitivity. I second the need to know what you're feeding.

 

[myawesomepullets]

Pics always help.
As well as knowing what all and how exactly are you feeding?
I have a few juicy poopers, evidence on the poop boards in the morning,
otherwise they all seem fine.<shrugs>

I spent several minutes out with the chickens, but I wasn't able to get a photo. I'll post one as soon as I can! I mainly just feed the girls their chicken feed, plus water (of course!) and grit that is mixed in with their food. They have unlimited access to both food and water. Occasionally I give them some bugs and mealworms as a treat, and sometimes fruit/veggies/greens. Other than that, there's not much to it! I was wondering if stress levels affect poop. I observed the first chicken starting having diarrhea after my family moved to a different house. Maybe stress is linked to it, I don't really know!

 

[aart]

I observed the first chicken starting having diarrhea after my family moved to a different house. Maybe stress is linked to it, I don't really know!

Maybe stress, or she's eating some new thing that's causing the problem.

When I have a bird that is 'off' I isolate bird in a wire cage within the coop for a day or two....so I can closely monitor their intake of food and water, crop function(checking at night and in morning before providing more feed), and their poops. Feel their abdomen, from below vent to between legs, for squishy or hard swelling. Check for external parasites or any other abnormalities.



Best to put crate right in coop or run so bird is still 'with' the flock.
I like to use a fold-able wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller mesh(1x2) on bottom of crate under tray.
Then you can put tray underneath crate to better observe droppings without it being stepped in. If smaller mesh is carefully installed, tray can still be used inside crate.

 

[myawesomepullets]

Maybe stress, or she's eating some new thing that's causing the problem.

When I have a bird that is 'off' I isolate bird in a wire cage within the coop for a day or two....so I can closely monitor their intake of food and water, crop function(checking at night and in morning before providing more feed), and their poops. Feel their abdomen, from below vent to between legs, for squishy or hard swelling. Check for external parasites or any other abnormalities.



Best to put crate right in coop or run so bird is still 'with' the flock.
I like to use a fold-able wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller mesh(1x2) on bottom of crate under tray.
Then you can put tray underneath crate to better observe droppings without it being stepped in. If smaller mesh is carefully installed, tray can still be used inside crate.

Thank you for the tips! I actually saw her poop and it seemed completely normal, so I'm not sure if I was just overreacting or something. I'm still gonna keep an eye on her to make sure she's fine.