Aussie-Chookmum
Obeying her avian masters
Those are good observations Shad.Unfortunately normal poop is not easy to classify. What might alarm say micstrachen might not worry me. Bear in mind what they eat is a major factor in what their poop looks like as is the weather.
I did think of making a poop chart but what I consider normal has in the past caused a lot of drama and huffiness when others have come along and told the OP that their hen is sick and told them to administer this drug, or that.
The best thing to do is look at their poop every day and as much of it as possible.
I know, not the greatest of pastimes. It will give you an idea of the range you can expect from your hens in your environment. For example, I get lots of black poop here, but the hens are still alive the next year. I get lots of watery poop with bits in. Post pictures of that on the forums and the next thing you know you'll have enough drug advice to run a clinic for junkies. The hens are still alive a year later.
Danger signs here are bright colours; bright green and bright yellow in particular, and of course blood.
Blood in poop of curse alarms everyone but it isn't that uncommon. Hens shed bits of intestine and do occasionally rupture small blood vessels in the oviduct.
I might do a poop small poop chart just for us here if anyone thinks it might help.
I see lots of it and it only needs photographing.
There are many other things that can lead one to believe a chicken is sick. Not all that visible type of behaviour necessarily means sickness of the body. Donk for example who I've been worried about recently has not looked herself recently. She is moulting, but it's very minor and she's not prone to hysterical behaviour. What is wrong with Donk is a) she wants to sit and hatch and b) she's having problems with Myth. The physiological stuff often gets overlooked and in extreme cases may cause other physical problems; not getting enough to eat, being constantly harassed when trying to lay eggs etc etc.
It is unfortunate that with chickens, by the time they look ill, it is often too late to do much about it.
It's very difficult for those who have busy working or social lives to monitor their chickens. Many people it seems only really notice their chickens at food time and when giving treats. The prospect of food can perk up a mildly sick chicken to the point of not be distinguishable in health from the others.
I for one would be interested in a poop chart from you.
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Of the chickens' poop of course!
