Excessive drinking/can this be a habit

[LaurelRidgeDreams]

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I sure hope you are right!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[karmical]

I think JaninePeters is on to something! I didn't think about it that way, but it makes sense. Dehydration would sort of naturally follow all that water coming out through the GI tract, since it's not getting absorbed. I've noticed firmer poo (and less excessive drinking) this week in my girl that was drinking so much too...might support that theory!! I hope you're close to having this resolved!! Fingers crossed!!

 

[7L Farm]

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No, its a 3 gallon plastic water-er.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

A heated 3 gallon waterer?

I literally had 2 gallons in one of those bone dry the next morning with only 7 chickens. And yeah, it cost me some egg production that day. Typically now in winter it's every 2 days opposed to 3 gallons twice a week in summer/fall. If you did'nt notice, winter I cant use the hose so carry 2 one gallon jugs down.

Two reasons for mine to be emptying so fast:

1) The chickens start to tussle and push about by end of day before being let out of pen and knock the waterer (have it hanging) and spills some out each time. The heated platic design has the water right to rim, easy to spill over, not fond of that feature.

2) Sub freezing dryer weather with a heat source in the waterer; a lot of evaporation.

 

[LaurelRidgeDreams]

About how much water do chickens drink daily if it's not hot? We're lucky if the temp. gets above freezing.

 

[dawg53]

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I have three 2 gallon plastic containers of water set out in the shade and they are almost topped off with water. At the end of the day, 2 containers are down about an 1-1/2" of water and the 3rd is down about 2-3 inches....this is their current wintertime water consumption. Summertime, water consumption is about tripled, or more, and I have to change their water 2, sometimes 3 times a day, to keep it fresh and cool (this amount of water is the total for all the changeouts during one day that they have drank.) I havnt figured the quantities ie...quarts/gallons thery've drank..too much math for me. It's safe to say they drink less during the winter than the summer. Keep in mind it depends how many chickens you have in your flock...more chickens means more water to drink.

 

[fiberart57]

To the OP,
Did you treat all of your chickens for parasites or just the sick one? Did all of them get the antibiotics?

If yes, then the runny poops will cause more need for water replacement and it might not be a bad idea to give them some poultry electrolytes in their water. Also, when you're finished with a run of antibiotics, it's good to give chickens some probiotics to replace the bacteria. This can be done with plain, non or low fat yogurt, about a tablespoon per bird. Or you could sprinkle some acidopholous (sp?) powder on their food.

If you only treated one chicken, then it's quite likely that the other birds have worms and/or cocci as well and will need the same treatment. It might be wise at this point to do a complete bedding change.

Like someone mentioned, whenever there's an animal drinking excessive water, look for too much salt in the food or kidney problems.
I think that sometimes too much calcium at an early age can cause kidney disease. Someone wiser will no doubt correct me if I'm wrong.

Good luck,
Mary

 

[LaurelRidgeDreams]

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It's been 10 days since the antibiotic treatment ended. There is still no change in the high level of water consumption and watery poop.

I did treat all of the chickens for parasites including cocci. They all received the antibiotics. Electrolytes, vitamins, and probiotics (along with some yogurt) have been included in all of this.

Peter Brown has been helping me with the meds throughout this. He had a serious car accident and is unable to type right now.

Excessive salt isn't the issue. I've read some interesting research about polydipsia (excessive drinking) and polyuria (watery poop). This "condition" isn't the same as diarrhea. I'm thinking there could be a connection between the October crop impaction and this. Maybe there is an obstruction somewhere she's trying to clear with water.

Dawg53 has helped me tremendously and I'm very appreciative. The plan is to send a fecal sample to Raleigh this week if the SNOW will allow me to leave the farm.

 

[jeslewmazer]

Sorry if I missed it, but how much are you calling excessive?

 

[LaurelRidgeDreams]

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Yesterday morning I watched her drink 71 dips of the beak before I got tired of counting and left the coop. She was still drinking when I left. She drinks often during the day and each time around 40 dips. The other chickens average 7 to 11 dips each time they drink.