Ex-Batt Hen with dramatic explosive diarrhoea, 4 weeks now (warning: Pics!)

[kit-e-kate]

Hi all,
On the 7th April one of my hens (whilst relaxing under the kitchen table!) had a sudden and very noisy diarrhoea poo, it was black and very nasty looking but, since it didn't seem to put her mood up nor down, I just assumed it was something she had eaten (my neighbour had put out bird food including raisins and I thought she might have eaten some..)

Now, 4 weeks later, she is still having watery and explosive poops, occasionally with yellow urates in them. The poop smells bad, like a dung heap. She still seems in good spirits, and since I came home from working away (got back a week ago) I've been giving her some cage bird tonic vitamin drops, a little milk thistle (to hopefully ease any liver problem that's might be causing the yellow) and in the last couple of days I've been feeding her catfood to try and stop the weight loss. She's eating and drinking fine, and is happy pottering around outside with her friends.

They free range around the garden, get pellets and a little mixed grain.

She is probably about 2 and a half years old and hasn't laid regularly for a long time now, though on the 27th April she did lay a long slim egg.

Any ideas what is going on here? How can I help her get back to normal? The first picture (very dark poop) is the first poop, and the other two are from today!

Thanks,
Kate

 

[EggSighted4Life]

They free range around the garden, get pellets and a little mixed grain.

If by laying pellets is what you mean...

Too much calcium (more than 3%) fed to non laying birds long term *can* (doesn't mean will) cause kidney issues including gout and possible failure.

I personally would use a grower or flock raiser with 18-20% protein and 1% ish calcium, with oyster shell available free choice on the side for layers.

Cat food is a good supplement on occasion, like during molt... since it is said to be high in protein and feathers are made from 90% protein. But I would stick MAINLY to a formulated chicken ration... since it has the correct balance of other nutrients for chickens. It could even be that causing the odd poos. Any change in diet can do it. It might even be the vitamins adding to the color.

On the other hand... too much protein fed long term (I would say way more than 30%) could also cause a different type of gout and kidney failure.

I saw one case with a bird that always had runny droppings. After a battery of tests with results showing no parasites and such... those long term results, after necropsy... did show liver issues. We do all we can... but sometimes you just can't fight genetics.

Sometimes a fecal float at the vet can be helpful. It cost $25 at mine. But can rule out intestinal worms that might be causing it. Only large round worms and tape worms will be seen in droppings. All others stay inside the intestine and only their microscopic eggs (oosysts) will pass. Though that may not be my suspicion... it's at least worth mentioning.

Since she hasn't laid in a long time really and you describe her as losing weight... is she molting? If she hasn't molted and you are seeing this... i would suspect some sort of internal laying, egg yolk peritonitis... or something else to that effect that is taking its' toll and the diarrhea is a result of the stress on the body... brain storming here.

How do you get ex bat hens? That's kind of you to take them in!

One thing I would try... some probiotics to get the gut flora on track. Either a spoonful of yogurt a couple times per day. Or some raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar with MOTHER added to the drinking water. You will have to look up ratio since i don't know that one.

Interestingly enough... having many minerals or electrolytes off balance could also cause runs, I think.

Sorry I can't be much help but hopefully I at least gave you some ideas. Hope she shows improvement!

 

[kit-e-kate]

Hi,
Thank you for all the helpful advice! That's brilliant! I'll see what other options are available in terms of more appropriate feed for her. Meantime, I've been adding yoghurt and cinnamon (Iread somewhere that it helps ease diarrhoea) to her catfood (yummy???) and today there did seem to be a slight improvement.

You can rehome ex-battery hens here through the British Hen Welfare trust, they have rehoming days where, having been reserved in advance, hens scheduled for slaughter are collected from the factory and taken to various 'friendly' farms (we have 3 here in this part of Scotland, Perth, Denny and Stonehave) where having made a donation of a couple of pounds each, people come and collect their new feathered friends! I volunteer with them sometimes to help on rehimng days.
This picture is from a friend of mine in the rehiming group, showing how much on of her girls has improved!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Wow, that's a shocking difference! Very beautiful!

And heart breaking.

I would consider the cinnamon irrelevant and more like an old wives tale... but LOVE to see some evidence.

https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/diarrhea-in-backyard-chickens/

http://www.chat.allotment-garden.org/?topic=17568.0