Is this normal?

[thewildbunch]

We have been raising silkies for about 5 years now with no problems, but recently a few of them have been losing weight at an alarming rate. Our egg production also slowed almost to a stop. (4-6 eggs per day from almost 30 hens)



We have wormed them with Wazine and treated for coccidiosis with Corid. We still are seeing some unusual droppings (liquid carmel colored) in the yard and under the roosts. (I have included a photo) We've been told that this type of poop is "normal" on some other sites, but we're just not sure. If anyone has any insight, we sure would appreciate it.

 

[chooks4life]

Not healthy poop, no. 'Normal' encompasses a whole lot of ill health people accept as 'good enough'.

My guess is it's something impacting the liver, possibly, but I'm not 100% sure, never had poops like that to deal with. Well, basically no matter what it is it's likely to impact the liver. Kinda useless guess, lol!

Best wishes.

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

Those are normal poops. Cecal poop. They are sticky and stinky. And yes, sometimes they do come out caramel color.

Here is a nice poop chart....http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=17568.0

But as for loosing weight, the thing that comes to mind is worms. I would try something stronger than Wazine just in case. You might try some Safeguard Liquid Goat wormer. 1/2 cc for heavy weights, 1/4 cc for bantam types, once each day for 3 days. I find it very easy to get it into them by mixing the med in 1cc Gerber Baby Food. Peas is a good flavor. Then with a syringe without the needle, slowly squeeze this onto the center of the tongue.

Also, keep the hair around the eyes trimmed with Silkies. It can get so long that they can't see to eat or drink and I have even heard of Silkies wandering into ponds and drowning because they can't see.

You might also post this in our emergency section as well for more input...https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/10/emergencies-diseases-injuries-and-cures

I hope you can get down to the bottom of this and get your birds back to good health soon.

 

[Wyandottes7]

Welcome to BYC!

We're glad to have you.

TwoCrows has given good advice.

 

[stasichick]

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

Those are normal poops. Cecal poop. They are sticky and stinky. And yes, sometimes they do come out caramel color.

Here is a nice poop chart....http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=17568.0

But as for loosing weight, the thing that comes to mind is worms. I would try something stronger than Wazine just in case. You might try some Safeguard Liquid Goat wormer. 1/2 cc for heavy weights, 1/4 cc for bantam types, once each day for 3 days. I find it very easy to get it into them by mixing the med in 1cc Gerber Baby Food. Peas is a good flavor. Then with a syringe without the needle, slowly squeeze this onto the center of the tongue.

Also, keep the hair around the eyes trimmed with Silkies. It can get so long that they can't see to eat or drink and I have even heard of Silkies wandering into ponds and drowning because they can't see.

You might also post this in our emergency section as well for more input...https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/10/emergencies-diseases-injuries-and-cures

I hope you can get down to the bottom of this and get your birds back to good health soon.

Thanks for the poop chart!!! so funny but good to keep in mind! thanks )

 

[TwoCrows]

Yes, that is a funky chart, but it sure does help!

 

[stasichick]

We have been raising silkies for about 5 years now with no problems, but recently a few of them have been losing weight at an alarming rate. Our egg production also slowed almost to a stop. (4-6 eggs per day from almost 30 hens)



We have wormed them with Wazine and treated for coccidiosis with Corid. We still are seeing some unusual droppings (liquid carmel colored) in the yard and under the roosts. (I have included a photo) We've been told that this type of poop is "normal" on some other sites, but we're just not sure. If anyone has any insight, we sure would appreciate it.

Welcome!!! happy to see someone had a poop chart for you (and me!) haha

 

[chooks4life]

The fact that they're unusual poops for your flock to produce, and are accompanied by your chooks losing weight and slowing production, is probably not a coincidence.

The vast majority of all poultry deaths are due to digestive system disease, specifically involving the liver, due to the diets they're kept on; it's not a coincidence that many flocks never have 'cecal poops', only healthy black and white ones, whereas other flock owners accept these sickly, stinking poops as normal.

As I said before, 'normal' encompasses many states of poor health generally considered 'good enough'.

Each to their own.

Best wishes.

 

[thewildbunch]

Thanks for all the input. It may be an diet issue as we (without knowing better) had them on a steady diet of scratch - and only scratch. We switched to layers pellets a couple of weeks ago. The suggestion to trim around their eyes makes a lot of sense and we will get on that today. As far as the goat wormer suggestion, is there any way to give that to the entire flock, or does it have to be administered one at a time? We have a large number of birds and that would be very labor intensive. (we'd still do it, but if there's a way to deliver it to the masses, that would be great!) Thanks again

 

[iwiw60]

Thanks for all the input. It may be an diet issue as we (without knowing better) had them on a steady diet of scratch - and only scratch. We switched to layers pellets a couple of weeks ago. The suggestion to trim around their eyes makes a lot of sense and we will get on that today. As far as the goat wormer suggestion, is there any way to give that to the entire flock, or does it have to be administered one at a time? We have a large number of birds and that would be very labor intensive. (we'd still do it, but if there's a way to deliver it to the masses, that would be great!) Thanks again

Pellet feed is rather large for little silkies to consume. I feed Purina Layena crumbles...my girls love it!