Long skinny chicken poo

[Whisker Biscuit]

Hello everyone,
This is my first post and I'm in need of some help. About 3 weeks ago, I lost my first hen to sickness after 4 years of raising my girls. After a vet visit with Gracie, Doc said she had tested positive for tape worms. I'm not whole heartedly sure that was the problem but long story short, my sweet Gracie crossed the rainbow bridge. Doc gave me prescription wormer for all my girls, all of which have been wormed just in case. The last week and a half, I have had someone (I currently have 6 hens) leaving pencil thin droppings 3-5 inches long in the coop. It could be more than one of them, I'm not really sure. This is something I haven't run into before and am getting kind of concerned as it hasn't subsided yet. Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

Welcome to BYC! Allow me to summon the poop inspector general.

@casportpony

Also, could you post some photos?

 

[Whisker Biscuit]

Thank you so much, I appreciate it! I just cleaned my girls coop earlier tonight and disposed of their droppings - I didn't even think about a photo but will go out and see what I can come up with.
PS - I truly enjoy reading all of the posts on here and seeing how willing everyone is to help fellow chicken lovers. You guys are wonderful!

 

[Whisker Biscuit]

Here's a few samples that I was able to find from a few days ago. They are dried out now since it's been warm - I couldn't locate any fresh specimens. This is pretty comparable to color and size to fresh poo. This is a daily occurrence that I didn't notice before Gracie got sick. I have 6 girls, one of which is a bantam - there coop foot long, 4 feet wide and 5 foot tall. Plenty of nesting space and roosting room for all of them - I could easily add 6 more and still feel they have enough room. Their coop has a window for ventilation. Their run is 20 feet by 6 foot, all shades. They have two 1 gallon feeders and two 3 gallon waterers - food and water is located at each end of their run. Their water is changed out at least every other day. They free range in the evening for 2-5 hours (depending on the time of year and amount of sunlight since we're in Indiana) once we get home from work and the dog is inside. I don't notice a difference in the amount of food or water they are taking in, even with the humidity being high and the temps being in the high 80's and low 90's during the day. The only change is that I have noticed is since Gracie is gone, there seems to be a pecking order issue going on. There have been quite a few feathers in the run lately but I am only able to identify who's they are by the color of the feather - no one appears to be without feathers and they don't squabble in front of me. There's nothing getting in or out of the coop - we had a raccoon issue about a year ago and lost a few hens, I vouched nothing would get in or out and nothing has. Gracie was at the bottom of the pecking order but I have read that even so, they still have to figure it out amongst themselves. Sorry for the long winded post, just wanted to give everyone as much details as possible! Thanks everyone! Input is appreciated! Our dog is in need of his toe nails trimmed and has to go to the vet - he is who Gracie saw when she was sick so I'm going to take fresh stool samples this week for him to check for worms and get an opinion. I probably won't get there until late this week but if he has any input, I will surely post! Just not sure if I should be alarmed in the mean time.

 

[pgossin]

Was there ever closure on this? I’m curious

 

[Michelle McCoombe]

No. I have started a new thread as I am having the same issue.

 

[PDXJULES]

Curious also. I have 7 Chicks and there always seems to be some skinny poo among the rest. Maybe normal for a tight-assed little Cockerel, to coin a phrase?