Loose Brown Poop

[Sg-chickens]

Hi! I am hoping I could get some help.

I have a Welsummer that is about 6.5 months old who just started laying this past Wednesay, 2/1. For the past 2-3 days she’s had these loose/watery brown poop (picture below).

For about a few weeks, I’ve slowly been introducing layer feed (from local feed store) with grower scratch and peck feed as she was the last layer of my 3 Pullets. They do free range in my backyard a few times a week for a couple hours at a time, but mostly in coop and run.

She seems active, alert, and eating/drinking. Each time she’s laid an egg she’s been quite noisy and not really sure of herself.

We live in Southern California and we had a pretty wet spell for a couple of weeks, which is not normal. During that time the run was quite wet. Weather is now in the 60-70s.

Got them as 3 day old chicks, and haven’t been dewormed since I’ve had them.

I’m not sure if I should be concerned or not, but the loose/watery stools have been pretty consistent. But any insights would be helpful. first time having chicks and just nervous I’m going to miss something.

If there’s more info I can provide, I’m happy too.

Thank you so much!

 

[Razzlefrazzle]

Any new/weird food (berries, ect) she could be foraging? While the poop is definitely a little off I wouldn't be too concerned yet as she looks healthy and is acting normal. She might just be a little out of sorts due to starting to lay. Some extra probiotics like plain yogurt (in moderation) or from a poultry supplement might help.

 

[Sg-chickens]

Thank you so much for your reply! I’m gonna try and give her some yogurt tomorrow. She laid her third egg today and seems quite stressed about it so I’m thinking that may be playing a role

 

[Razzlefrazzle]

Let us know if it doesn't clear up in a week or so and we'll try to get more info about what could be the problem.

 

[Sg-chickens]

Thank you so much!!

It does seems to be getting worse. Previously at night her poop looked relatively normal, but last night it seems much more watery (picture below)

I also just went out to them just now and she went in front of me, which looks suspicious.

 

[Sg-chickens]

Sorry for the double post, but I did just go into the coop and found what looks to be a soft shell egg that I’m assuming was from here but not 100%

 

[Razzlefrazzle]

Well it seems like she is one of those girls who has a bit of trouble getting the hang of laying. I'd start giving her one calcium citrate tablet a day for at least a few days, more if she still seems to have trouble laying. Also make sure to provide a source of supplemental calcium in the coop like crushed oyster shells for your girls to eat as needed. Sometimes you'll get a lot of thin-shelled eggs with new layers. She should grow out of it in a few weeks and in the meantime the calcium tablets should help some.

Hens having trouble laying (soft shelled eggs are hard to pass) can drink a lot of water so that might explain the wet poops. The second poop pic looks good except for the yellow slimy stuff which might be some intestinal shedding (normal every now and again) or possibly remnants from the soft shelled egg. If you see it again I'd poke at it a little with a stick and see if it seems more like egg material or mucus or what (not pleasant, I know, but it can be informative...)

 

[Sg-chickens]

Thank you so much for the response. I’ve been monitoring her and have oyster shells/egg shells offered 24/7. I think you were right about her getting the hang of it. Haven’t had a soft shell since the one I posted about and she seems to be production eggs on a more regular schedule.

 

[Razzlefrazzle]

Thank you so much for the response. I’ve been monitoring her and have oyster shells/egg shells offered 24/7. I think you were right about her getting the hang of it. Haven’t had a soft shell since the one I posted about and she seems to be production eggs on a more regular schedule.

Glad to hear she seems to be getting into the swing of laying. Is her poop mostly normal now or are you still getting a lot of wet splats?