Does anybody do fecal tests on their own chickens?

I know, EMBARRASSED!

I still haven't been able to talk myself into buying cat food for my molting chickens, even though my sister says it is the very best thing. What if someone sees me doing it?

So no, I haven't ever done taken a fecal sample to the vet, or done it myself at home either.

 

A stool sample??? Never heard of that one... Do you see something unusual in their feces???

 

My daughter works for a vet and I worked in a human medical lab for years analysing body fluids / specimens.

In the case of a chicken use a clean plastic or glass container (run it through the dishwasher or wash with hot water and rinse), can be a used yogurt container or jar...anything with a lid, or just use a zip-type baggie. Take a plastic disposable spoon and scoop the poop, looking for the most suspicious stuff...any things that look like worms or worm eggs, blood, really mucosy stuff, ... Close the container and deliver it within the hour to the vet's office. Keep cool by placing it in a larger bag of ice if the weather is really hot or you will be more than an hour. Just be sure that both bags or containers are sealed so one does not leak into the other. Be sure the specimen stays cool but delivering it quickly is the most important. Organisms do not survive long (the cells burst and small single-celled parasites quit moving/die) and it is hard enough to find parasites in a fresh specimen. Don't expect much if you leave it sitting for a few hours.

There is nothing odd about body fluids. I've analysed them all. Body fluids can tell us more than you know about health...

 

Cat food for molting???

 

I have seen several articles about testing fecal samples yourself. I think you must have a microscope though. There are special ways to fix the slides and a picture list of what they look like. I would google "how to test fecal samples for worms" . You could post for us all if you figure it out?

Best of luck! Henz

 

Quote:The extra protein helps with the moulting process. Helps them re-grow feathers. I'd never be embarrased to buy cat food for chickens, they love it. And who'd ever know you didn't have a cat? Henz

 

is the cat food canned or dry??

 

dry cat food