Sorry in advance for what is probably a stupid question, but I had to ask: My hens poo has changed from fairly runny to fairly firm. Can a chicken get constipated? Is this just normal? I have only had these hens for a couple of weeks and I'm still trying to learn all I can. They seem to ba acting fine. Still molting, eating good. Am I just being an overly concerned new hen mama?
You are NOT being stupid. Chicken and especially their poo tends to be very varied, and still be normal. Here's the infamous poop page so you can see the differences. http://www.chat.allotment.org.uk/index.php?topic=17568.0 Imp
There are two different types of poo that you will see. The 'normal' brown and white turd and then a brownish 'goo'. Both are completely normal. Waste (faeces) The remainder of the material consisting of waste and undigested food are mixed with the urine in the cloaca and eliminated from the body as faeces. The appearance of the faeces varies considerably, but typically is a rounded, brown to grey mass topped with a cap of white uric acid from the kidneys. The contents of the caeca are also discharged periodically as discrete masses of brown, glutinous material. •The average daily production of faeces from laying hens is between 100 and 150 grams. These fresh droppings are approximately 75% water and will air dry under favourable conditions to approximately 30% water. this is from poultry hub. http://www.poultryhub.org/anatomy-and-physiology/digestive-system/
Thank you soooo much for the link! I found theirs on it in the "normal" pics...lol I bookmarked it so I can check back if I ever have another question.