Lasting diarrhea and starting to spread

[Eggcessive]

Good advice from @Wyorp Rock . Getting the fecal float soon would be helpful. Then worm them, since all chickens carry worms. Clean out the droppings often, and place clean pine shavings on their ground. In the run, sand might be good to use. Mixing some water with chicken feed can be better for them than feeding just oatmeal. Oatmeal is not particularly good for them. A good feed for older chickens is Flock Raiser 20% protein. If some still lay get a small bag of crushed oystershell for a separate container. If you prefer layer feed, I would use a brand name crumble, such as Purina or Nutrina.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

No more than 5 or 6 as that’s how long the owners lived at their address...They don’t seem to get along though as in the morning they have fresh injuries. 4 chickens in a 16 sq ft coop (only go in to sleep and lay) with two 48” roosts spaced far apart enough to try to deter it as they’ve been squabbling since they arrived. Lots of comb pecking and feather pulling. I will get pics of poop when I let them outside later. Same type of waterer and they do drink. I don’t think they had access to fresh food and water at all times previous because both were empty when I took them and when I set them up here they gorged themselves long enough to be concerning. My vet said they can run a fecal so I’ll try that as well.

I agree with @Eggcessive Personally I would use an all flock/flock raiser feed. Purina Flock Raiser is good. Naturewise also has an All Flock feed, I've never used that one - I DO look at the date tag on feed bags and try to get a bag that was milled within the last few weeks. Older feed loses nutrition.
Having 4 hens, a bag will last you a while, so I would try to store it where it stays dry and fresh. I would only put on enough feed that they will consume in a day or two - feed exposed to moisture/outdoors can spoil and mold quickly.

With them coming out every morning with fresh injuries - comb pecking and feather pulling - they may not have enough space inside their coop (photos may be helpful). Are you locking them in at night and opening the coop early in the morning? Even though they have 4sq ft of space each in the coop, that's a guideline. Some birds get on just fine with even less space, while others need much more.

I'm glad your vet can run a fecal float, I would get that done fairly quickly just so know whether it will be a good idea to worm them or not.

Do you have other chickens too?

 

[eikome]

If their fecal float/deworming doesn't solve the problem, you might want to look into enteritis and treating with BMD.

I had a hen with mystery watery poop for a long time not caused by worms or related to the food she ate. The watery poop started to spread to the rest of the flock so I ended up treating them all with BMD and probiotics. They no longer have watery poops. I continue to add probiotics to their water periodically to keep up their gut health.

Good luck with your flock!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

If their fecal float/deworming doesn't solve the problem, you might want to look into enteritis and treating with BMD.

I had a hen with mystery watery poop for a long time not caused by worms or related to the food she ate. The watery poop started to spread to the rest of the flock so I ended up treating them all with BMD and probiotics. They no longer have watery poops. I continue to add probiotics to their water periodically to keep up their gut health.

Good luck with your flock!

What is BMD?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

What is BMD?

Never mind, duh I'm having a brain freeze

 

[clogan98]

They are not locked in the coop at night. They also have the run of half a garage. These are the only chickens I have. I owned them years ago but had no intention of getting any here. This was an emergency situation.

 

[aart]

Never mind, duh I'm having a brain freeze

Well, I don't know ...and it doesn't goggle(easily).

 

[eikome]

What is BMD?

Sorry! BMD stands for bacitracin methylene disalicylate. It's sold as "BMD soluble". You can get it here from Jeffers Pet and from MurrayMcMurray.

 

[aart]

Sorry! BMD stands for bacitracin methylene disalicylate. It's sold as "BMD soluble". You can get it here from Jeffers Pet and from MurrayMcMurray.

Thanks...I am not fluent in AB's.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Have you thought of Salmonella Bacterial Infection?

Or possibly a lack of Probiotics, & Grit?