It’s that time again: Is this chick poop normal?

[newchickychick]

So it’s me again: I’m a worrier.

For context JUST in case it’s not normal: I’ve seen quite a few of these in our brooder (really just a giant kiddie pool with pvc walls the chicks LOVE and our last batch loved) today and I’m not sure if I’m catching just only cecals or if something wonky is going on.
- Our outside chicks (7 weeks) have no contact with these. We all wash our hands and wear different clothes between outside and in, shoes included.
- We DID pull the outside feeder to give the big chicks a new one and this one to the inside babies, but it was washed THOROUGHLY before the chicks were given it. Soap and hot water, then another few rounds of water to be sure all the soap was off.
- 14 of our inside batch were shipped, the others picked up from TSC as day-olds. We’ve got around 28 2 week olds and 14 3-6? Day olds in the inside brooder.
- Yesterday we did a big FULL clean of the inside brooder. I am sure it was scary for them! To make up for potential stress, I put a little bit of electrolyte powder (nutridrench) in their water for overnight and swapped it back for normal water this morning. I also made them scrambled eggs they went nuts over, and offered some chick grit too just in case with it. They did not go nuts on the grit but did much down a bit with the eggs, but overall no one gorged on it.
- EVERYONE is behaving normally. Everyone is eating and drinking well, playing hard, and sleeping hard.
- Four of our two week olds ARE gigantic as they are cornish crosses but they have been absolute angels with the little ones. They let all the chicks clamber over them and cuddle up to them, so I don’t see it being a stress issue as I haven’t seen anyone be bullied nor signs of feather picking/etc.
- It HAS been hotter than the days before. There is ample space for them to get away from the heat lamp (and I mean LOTS)! However everyone is roaming the whole brooder just fine and some opt to sleep right under the lamp while some sleep a bit away, and others sleep far from it, so it seems to just be that they can get any temperature they need in there. I’ve got a window open for air flow/ventilation but it is muggy outside so not sure how much it helps if they’re not. (I haven’t seen any panting or signs of dehydration)


This is going to be a lot of text for nothing if it’s not worrying.
Please forgive the food and shavings on it. Chicks sure seem to like pooping in their food. I do of course totally empty and clean and refill the feeder when there’s poop in it.

 

[DonyaQuick]

It just looks like a normal cecal poo to me.

 

[newchickychick]

Thank you! It did to me too, but I swear I saw many of those every time I've looked today and not "normal" ones so I was worrying. I'm really good at that. But with them all acting normal I didn't want to put it under emergencies. The range of how chicken poop can look being 'normal' will give me many more heart attacks in the future, I'm sure.

It just looks like a normal cecal poo to me.

 

[newchickychick]

An update: This is the only type of poop that I've seen dropped this morning. All chicks seem super happy and healthy and active, but is it possible they're just all on the same... cecal "schedule"? Should I dose with Corid JUST in case? (Still no sign of blood/etc.) Is there anything else that could be causing the stinky runny brown poop if it's not cecal, and what would be the best step of precaution to handle things before there's a chance for the chickies to get really sick? Or am I just paranoid? I'm hoping it's the latter, but... It's worrying seeing so much of that type of poop everywhere this morning. I definitely see more normal poops around but every chick I saw poop this morning had that type of poop. ;(

Editing to add: They're all on medicated feed. Should I swap to unmedicated? It's Purina brand.
It still looks like normal cecal poop so I'm probably being paranoid, but seeing soooo much of that this morning had me wanting to triple check.

 

[DonyaQuick]

If you don’t see blood in the poop, I wouldn’t dose anything, particularly given the behavior is fine and that they’re already on medicated feed. Corid is a thiamine blocker and is basically something the chicks can survive for a short period but the bugs can’t; chicks can still be harmed by excessive use of it (thiamine deficiency).

Cecal schedules are a thing. Mine usually do a regular one then one or two cecals in the morning when they get really excited. If I want to guarantee a round of improbably abundant cecals all at the same time, I just have to let them out to sit on me in the morning while wearing a nice clean shirt. Yours are probably just getting excited because you’re there, moving around more and therefore do the same thing as mine.

 

[dearmeghann]

I'd say that's cecal, too! The worst stinky part of raising chicks, especially when they're climbing on you. HAH! Isn't it hilarious how much we stare and inspect chicken poop, now?

 

[thecatumbrella]

So it’s me again: I’m a worrier.

Hello fellow worrier! I made this exact post two years ago, posting pictures of my chicks' cecals.

Something I've noticed through 3 batches of chicks is that they're more likely to cecal first thing in the morning or anytime they're excited (like when you visit!) Sometimes we'll go through a stint of looser poops, but as long as there's no blood and everyone's acting fine, I've learned to let it go.

 

[dearmeghann]

Hello fellow worrier! I made this exact post two years ago, posting pictures of my chicks' cecals.

Something I've noticed through 3 batches of chicks is that they're more likely to cecal first thing in the morning or anytime they're excited (like when you visit!) Sometimes we'll go through a stint of looser poops, but as long as there's no blood and everyone's acting fine, I've learned to let it go.

I love hearing about this! My partner gets so stressed out because it stinks and is harder to clean. He usually gets bombarded first thing in the morning, haha!

 

[newchickychick]

If you don’t see blood in the poop, I wouldn’t dose anything, particularly given the behavior is fine and that they’re already on medicated feed. Corid is a thiamine blocker and is basically something the chicks can survive for a short period but the bugs can’t; chicks can still be harmed by excessive use of it (thiamine deficiency).

Cecal schedules are a thing. Mine usually do a regular one then one or two cecals in the morning when they get really excited. If I want to guarantee a round of improbably abundant cecals all at the same time, I just have to let them out to sit on me in the morning while wearing a nice clean shirt. Yours are probably just getting excited because you’re there, moving around more and therefore do the same thing as mine.

Wow, this is really informative! Thank you! Yes, they have had crazy chicken zoomies. They all love to play with each other, so if it’s a sign they’re probably just too excited I will take it. phewh it stinks though!

Thanks y’all ALL for the reassurance. This is our first year with chicks and the bonus is eggs certainly but our main goal is just good animal husbandry and well loved pets (even the ones who will grow to see us as big scary giants!). We’ve had two FTT losses (thankfully no others) out of… 72 chicks. (Turns out I’m an early expert at chicken math!) but man do I worry when any tiny thing is wrong.

Our coop we’re nearly finished with will have enough to fit 125 chickens at 4 square feet per, so we’re going to max out at 70. (We know we’ve got 10 roos in our oldest batch of 19 total. Boo!) So trying to be sure everyone is super healthy when I begin the month-long introduction of littles to biggers in 3-5 weeks! This definitely eases my worrying brain.

My google is full of “is this poop normal” and “best flowers and fruits and veggies to grow for chickens” and all those sorts of things. My poor husband has looked over and raised an eyebrow more than once to see a page full of poop pictures. (he’s thankfully a chicken math enabler. I hit the lottery!)

 

[thecatumbrella]

My partner gets so stressed out because it stinks and is harder to clean.

It is like cement when it dries! And they always seem to do it on solid surfaces, just so someone else can step in it!