Is this poop normal?

[critterlover]

I switched my chickens over to layer feed six days ago. When I did I noticed a caramel colored softer poop in the run. I thought maybe their stomachs were upset with the switch so I gave them some plain rice for a couple of days. The new poops were gone. Today there seem to be more of these different poops. The girls are active and eating and seem happy. Most of their poops are the same as they have always been. I'm not sure if it is just one chicken or a couple.

Is there something in the layer feed changing the color for some of the poops? Or is this a normal ceacal poop?

 

[silkiechicken]

Looks like normal cecal poop to me!

Avoid too much rice as it's pretty much empty calories.

 

[critterlover]

I have never given them rice before. I did it because at first I thought one of them had loose poops because of the switch in feed. Good to know everything looks normal.

 

[hen-thusiast]

Before you got chickens, did you ever think you'd be so interested in chicken poo? I didn't.

(And like what silkiechicken said - looks normal)

 

[chookchick]

Gotta go find the poop chart---

Here it is-- more than you ever wanted to know about poop:

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

 

[Elite Silkies]

Nice chicken poo pic. Need to ad that one to the chart. Looks normal to me.

 

[canada-goose]

What a relief! I always thought it might be the sign of some evil-sounding disease! Gross picture, by the way.

 

[Guinea Goonie]

Give them some scratch and ONE day give them milk, yes milk. I have poultry grain in a "free" feeder, always available except during the night. At night they only have water available. I do this so they will empty their crops as completely as possible. If I do not see a hungry bird in the morning I know something is wrong.

The bacteria in their gut may need a jump start and milk is a great starter.

Do not give them any medications. Watch them for a few days, but you should be good to go.

Layer pellets are not the only food you should give. They need "grit" and poultry grain does this.

 

[critterlover]

Yes, I looked at the famous 'poop chart', but could not find one exactly like it.

Yes, yes......it's amazing, I'm cleaning the drop board one minute and then I run past my husband while telling him I need to grab my camera so I can take a picture of a particular poop!

What we do for our feathered family.

They always have grit available to them.

 

[noriko]

I also use this "poop chart" a lot! This is very usuful. Noriko.