Flock has diarrhea and I don’t k ow what to do or look for

[birdinthegarden]

Hello, fairly new here and I need help figuring out what’s wrong with my chickens. I have 13 hens and 1 rooster we got as chicks almost a year ago. These are the first chickens I’ve had. We are in North Alabama and about 3 weeks ago we got really hot as we do. The chickens have been struggling with the heat and today I noticed 2 of them (probably all of them) have diarrhea. They are eating scratch and peck mash that we soak. We give them veg and fruit scraps occasionally, meal worms and oyster shell free choice. We keep their water fresh and put frozen water bottles in to keep it cool. They have plenty of shade and dust bath areas. They are eating and laying fine. We also put out frozen gallon water bottles they like to stand on and sit by. Is the heat causing the diarrhea? What should I look for? I treated for mites (not confirmed ) about a month ago with elector psp whole coop and dipped each chicken. I don’t see any worms in the poop just pieces of undigested corn from their feed. What would you do? Thank you!

 

[FrostRanger]

Do you have a picture of their poop? And have they been eating any kind of melon such as watermelon or cantaloupe lately?

 

[birdinthegarden]

I don't have a picture. I went out yesterday to take one and things seem to have gone back to normal. Yes, we were giving them watermelon lately. Your question prompted me to stop and that seemed to have been it. It makes sense but no one mentioned that caveat on all the tips for helping chickens with heat. Thank you!

 

[coach723]

Runny droppings are very common when it's hot out, whether water or watermelon, they tend to take in more fluids to help stay cool.
My poop boards in the coop are horrible messy in the summer, and that's why. Do as many other things as you can to help them stay cool, and it will help. I'm in Florida, so heat and humidity are a constant concern in the summer, mine love a garden hose left on a trickle in the shade. Makes a puddle they can stand in and drink from.