Guidance Please

[GRB73]

I need some guidance. My three hens (18 mo.) have had on and off again loose/watery poos the past 2-3 weeks. During the past week I've noticed a decrease of overnight poo on the dropping board and the poo on my patio is smaller with more liquid (white or brown) than solid. I suspect the drop in poo production means they are eating less. My first thought was worms. I've checked the poo for worms but I don't see any. I gave them a small pumpkin last week and they ate the seeds. I read pumpkin seeds are a natural dewormer?

Everything else seems ok--no strange discharges or respiratory issues, no swollen vent, their crops empty overnight. They are molting so currently not laying.

They still forage, dust bath etc, but often choose to stay on the patio and hide behind a bench or under a bush. They are very grumpy to each other and to me!

Does anyone know what this could be? I don't want to deworm or treat with antibiotics if I don't know for sure they need it. Is there something else I should watch for or treat with?

 

[SequoiaBaby7]

Are you able to take a picture of the droppings? That will definitely help others decide if it's a parasite of bacterial infection. Also make sure they are they are drinking enough water because they could become dehydrated from having so much diarrhea. Good luck!

 

[sourland]

The watery feces may be a result of the pumpkin if they ate large quantities. 'Grumpiness' is not uncommon during molting - it is a stressful occurrence. Have you tried offering protein supplements ?

 

[Eggcessive]

I would not rely on pumpkins and seeds to treat a chicken with worms. If they have never been wormed before, you can find Valbazen or SafeGuard liquid goat wormer (or the horse paste) and treat almost all varieties of chicken worms. I can give you dosages. Try some probiotics in the water or give a small amount of plain yogurt 2-3 days a week to help their gut bacteria. That might help the loose stools, but chickens can have runny poops once and the next time perfectly normal ones. The more thirsty they are, the more they drink, and that can cause watery poops. A little cottage cheese instead of the yogurt, can help firm up droppings.

I clean droppings off my roosts daily. With 28 in one coop, I see all kinds and colors. It's better to watch the chickens' behavior and if they are alert, active, and eating/drinking well. Standing around hunched or separating themselves is a red flag. If your chickens have not yet molted this year, they could be starting to do so, and you will usually see a decrease in eating and more "resting."

 

[chickens really]

If they are all healthy and acting normal?......Nothing to worry about.....

 

[GRB73]

Here is a poo pic from tonight.

 

[Eggcessive]

Could you collect a few droppings overnight, and take them in to your local vet for a fecal test to look for worms or coccidiosis? There does seem to be a lot of mucus and water, but again do they seem sick to you or normal?

 

[GRB73]

Could you collect a few droppings overnight, and take them in to your local vet for a fecal test to look for worms or coccidiosis? There does seem to be a lot of mucus and water, but again do they seem sick to you or normal?

A little more sluggish than normal. But they still move about the yard and are very alert. There is just more hanging on the patio than normal. A float test is probably a good idea.