Help! Stinky loose brown/green stools

[lesliep6]

I have 7 four week old chicks and one of them has incredibly stinky loose brown/green stools. I don't think it's that smelly loose stool that comes out every 8-10 poops, (I forget what that's called. Something with a c....) because the chick seems to have these all the time. It seems healthy otherwise, though, I'm concerned that maybe it isn't growing now as quickly as the others. The other chicks have more full tail feathers that are curving down and this one's tail feathers are noticeably smaller.

This is my first time raising chicks, so I'd love to get some advise.

Also, someone at the feed store recommended putting a teaspoon of baking soda into each gallon of the chicks drinking water to "keep the stools moving." Any comments on this?

And finally, should I be giving my chicks oyster shells?

Thanks for your help!

 

[Kittymomma]

I've never heard of adding baking soda to their water, though many people add Apple Cider Vinegar. No, do not give your chicks any oyster shell, that is used as a calcium supplement for laying hens and the extra calcium is actually bad for young chicks. Here's a link to the infamous "poo page" that may help you decide if your chick has a problem. What are you feeding your little ones? All they really need at this age is a good chick starter and anything else could be the cause of the runny stool. Also, if you are feeding treats they'll need some chick grit.

http://www.chat.allotment.org.uk/index.php?topic=17568.0

 

[lesliep6]

Thanks for the info. They're getting fed a medicated chick starter and have had maybe 3 forays outside on warm days. But the stools have been like this before the outdoor adventures. I checked out the poop page, and my chick's stool looks like the loose brown normal ones, but without any white. Maybe I don't need to worry? What's chick grit?

 

[Kittymomma]

Chick grit is finely ground stone, usualy decomposed granite if I remember right. Chickens eat grit to help grind their food into digestable pieces (no teeth) and when they start eating things like fruit, bugs, worms, grass.....basically anything besides the crumbles and pellets you get at the feed store they need to have grit to grind their food up. Yours are 7-weeks old though so they'll be fine with hen grit (small pebbles) or even bits of gravel and rock that they find on their own while wandering around outside.