Is my chicken okay?

[SpikeDmax]

Hello BYC,

I'm very new to raising chickens, my boys (7 & 9) started right before Christmas (long story about how we got started but it's funny) and I'm wondering if this Leghorn is okay and why it's foot is like this.

It's poo is a sticky brown diarrhea and not like our other chicken that has a very normal looking poo. Is this poo a sign of sickness?

And here she is...hope she starts laying soon as I can't wait much longer...she's 17 weeks old.

 

[chookchick]

Has she always looked like this? If so it is probably genetic, a birth defect. I could also be a nutritional deficiency--are they on a good starter/grower without a lot of treats? (What is their diet?) Make sure they have access to grit and oyster shell at all times now.

 

[NancyinAlaska]

Were the chicks grown when you got them? I've read about deformed feet from being raised on wire cage floors, vitamin e deficiency, cold brooder floors. I honestly don't know for sure what's wrong. Chickens have 2 kinds of poo, cecal droppings called ceca, are smellier sometwhat foamy and can be light brown to green. Don't be surprised if she doesn't start laying "tomorrow" I've got birds that didn't lay till they were 6-8 months old, I've never had leghorns though.
Everything I've just told you, I found in Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens and I'd sure recommend you pick up a copy, it will help you as it's helped me.
Good luck and enjoy your chickens!!

 

[SpikeDmax]

Yes, the foot has always looked like that since we got her at age 10 weeks. From the reading I've been doing it sounds like poor nutrition when she was very young. Do you think her eggs will be okay? I'm feeding her Purina Start & Grow and believe the previous owner feed her the same. They do get treats, I feed them cabbage, celery, earthworms, sunflower seeds, left over meat scraps...is that okay to do at their age (17 weeks)?

What I'm more concerned with is the poo...it doesn't look normal to me or what the other chicken looks like and I'm just wondering if there is something I should be doing or medicating her.

Thanks for the help and advice.

 

[Sillystunt]

looks like cecal poo.

Many times when born they have trama and feet turn out like that from day one. I have one like that and she has trouble perching but gets around fine. She is a pet and not bred since i don't want to pass that gene or take the chance. I hatch out chicks all the time and you get some like that. Her eggs will be fine!

 

[chookchick]

That does look like a cecal poo--are all her poos like that? (Cecal poos are perfectly normal). If she has diarrhea constantly, keep an eye out for coccidiosis. She will look hunched up, ruffled dirty feathers, lethargic with cocci. IF that is the case, you would want to get them on Corid ASAP. Post another pic if you think she looks sick--the one you had, she doesn't look bad.