Digestion trouble?

Winderdear

Crowing
Jun 16, 2023
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I’m uncertain where to ask about this, so I’m sorry if this post is in the wrong section. I had mentioned it before in the emergency section but got no responses. Here is the link to that thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/questions-about-chicken-with-loose-wet-droppings.1595185/

I have a chicken who has always had an issue with runny droppings. She was hatched in June, and as we live in the southeast and she is mostly black in color (Cuckoo Marans) and extremely fluffy, I assumed she was drinking a lot to stay cool and her droppings were a result of that. Here we are now in mid-December and freezing weather and her thirst and droppings have not changed. Her butt is a mess, and it scares me to have her feathers wet in such cold weather. I clean her with a warm washcloth, but it’s a constant problem. I also worry about next summer and the potential for her messy bottom to attract flies.

Occasionally she does have a normal poo, but most of the time it’s liquid. She otherwise seems healthy and lays a daily egg for me, sometimes a big double-yolker.

None of my other chickens have this problem. They all eat the same food (scratch and peck layer, and this happened when they were on starter and grower too). They forage for a couple hours a day as well, and sometimes I give them veggies, though Juillet (the bird I’m concerned about) isn’t much interested in treats of any kind. She eats her feed and whatever worms she can dig up. I have them on the Molly’s Herbals worming treatment as well, but this issue began before I ever started using it.

Does anyone know what I can do for her, or what could be causing the issue?
 
Does anyone know what I can do for her, or what could be causing the issue?
I'll start by stating that I'm not an expert just an enthusiast trying to help find answers..

I'm thinking something deeper.. possibly congenital.. like kidney issues. Other considerations I would make would be salmonella or ecoli contamination. Is veterinary care an option for you? Links are for information, not whatever products they are suggesting.. please use your best judgement!

https://www.chickenvet.co.uk/diarrhoea-in-backyard-poultry

https://plusvet.eu/2021/09/01/main-causes-of-watery-feces-in-poultry/

If it didn't resolve.. I would consider euthanasia.. for the reasons and concerns you mentioned already.. (fly strike, chilling, my own reason messy eggs, etc)

:fl
 
Do you know that she has worms? If not, get a fecal test done. That's what I'd do first.
Thank you for your advice! I don’t know that she has worms. The herbal treatment I’m using is preventative, so I’m not treating a known problem.

How do you take a fecal test? It’s not easy to scoop up her droppings…
 
I'll start by stating that I'm not an expert just an enthusiast trying to help find answers..

I'm thinking something deeper.. possibly congenital.. like kidney issues. Other considerations I would make would be salmonella or ecoli contamination. Is veterinary care an option for you? Links are for information, not whatever products they are suggesting.. please use your best judgement!

https://www.chickenvet.co.uk/diarrhoea-in-backyard-poultry

https://plusvet.eu/2021/09/01/main-causes-of-watery-feces-in-poultry/

If it didn't resolve.. I would consider euthanasia.. for the reasons and concerns you mentioned already.. (fly strike, chilling, my own reason messy eggs, etc)

:fl
Thank you for your advice! I also assumed it was perhaps something congenital. I do have a vet nearby who treats farm animals. I will probably take her in to see them, but will research kidney issues on my own first. I hope it’s something treatable.
 
How do you take a fecal test? It’s not easy to scoop up her droppings…
I do have a vet nearby who treats farm animals.
This vet should be able to do it. It's called a fecal float test. Explain the situation, ask them how you should collect the specimen.

It's a test for intenal parasites.
 
Just wanted to update, I took Juillet’s fecal sample to the vet today and she has no internal parasites. I think other than making sure to give her electrolytes, cleaning her daily and just keeping a close eye on her, there’s likely nothing else I can do for her. Please advise me if you think otherwise. I think she still has pretty good quality of life, and I want to do my best to look after her.
 
Just wanted to update, I took Juillet’s fecal sample to the vet today and she has no internal parasites. I think other than making sure to give her electrolytes, cleaning her daily and just keeping a close eye on her, there’s likely nothing else I can do for her. Please advise me if you think otherwise. I think she still has pretty good quality of life, and I want to do my best to look after her.
Have you tried giving probiotics? And not just yogurt but actual concentrated probiotics.
 
Have you tried giving probiotics? And not just yogurt but actual concentrated probiotics.
I have not. Would you be willing to recommend a specific probiotic so I can be sure to get the right type? I have a probiotic and vitamin powder that I can add to their food, but I haven’t used it yet.
 
I have not. Would you be willing to recommend a specific probiotic so I can be sure to get the right type? I have a probiotic and vitamin powder that I can add to their food, but I haven’t used it yet.
If you've got a probiotic and vitamin mix I'd add that in, but I like the Chick'n Swell brand. You're mostly looking for Bacillus subtilis as one of the top ingredients.
https://www.amazon.com/ChicKN-Swell-Chick-probio-10-5-Chickn-Probiotic/dp/B0BNZGRZ17/ref=sr_1_46?crid=2GROUZWBNWVIR&keywords=probiotic+for+chickens&qid=1703104963&sprefix=probiotic+for+chickens,aps,126&sr=8-46
I've had people use dog or cat probiotics with Bacillus subtilis as well if they can't find chicken specific ones.
 

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