Month old chick with watery poo

[henvy]

My month old sussex has had watery poo for a few weeks now. She is otherwise totally normal and seemingly healthy. She's eating, drinking, playing, flapping her wings. She's curious and adventurous - even a little hyper at times.

I have them on organic starter feed. Giving them herbs from Scratch and Peck (oregano, basil, thyme, ginger, dandelion, nettle, garlic powder). I have a little ACV in their water. I've turned the ambient temp down to 80 degrees (which is about standard for her age). She has a heat plate she can duck under if she gets cold. She's not panting or holding her wings out and doesn't huddle or spend lots of time under the heater. She's running around the brooder.

Her poos are very watery, but the food looks digested to me - no seeds or particles - just really watery. And NOT smelly at all. I keep smelling it every time and have asked by housemates to smell it (super fun for them ). Her poos are pretty audible - and shoot a little ways, but otherwise she's fine. She did just produce a cecal poo within the watery poo. I don't know what that means - good or bad or neutral. She's eating just fine and at the end of the day her crop is full and in the morning is empty again.

Should I be worried? I do not want to medicate or give abx unless I know for sure it's warranted.

Are long-term watery poops dangerous even if she seems otherwise healthy?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

My month old sussex has had watery poo for a few weeks now. She is otherwise totally normal and seemingly healthy. She's eating, drinking, playing, flapping her wings. She's curious and adventurous - even a little hyper at times.

I've turned the ambient temp down to 80 degrees (which is about standard for her age). She has a heat plate she can duck under if she gets cold.

Her poos are very watery, but the food looks digested to me - no seeds or particles - just really watery.

Can you post some photos of her poop?
Photos of her too
Is she a lone chicken?
Where are you keeping her?
Do you provide a source of grit (crushed granite) free choice?

If she is acting normal then you probably have nothing to worry about. Check to make sure your feed is fresh (check the mill date on the bag).
Leave off the herbs and ACV for a few days to see if that makes a difference in the poop.

At a month old, she should not really need any supplemental heat. She may not look hot, but could be drinking more to compensate. Extra water makes for runny poop.

Look forward to more info and photos

 

[henvy]

Thanks so much for your reply. Here are some photos:

Here's my month-old sussex (actually about to be 6 weeks old ). She's my #1 fan

Here is her regular watery poo:

Here is a watery cecal poo:

 

[henvy]

She is with 3 other chicks - 2 are 5 weeks old, 1 is 3 weeks old. I'm keeping her and the other chicks in a 'puppy playpen' for a brooder in my house. I do provide chick grit - both in a separate bowl (that they cover with bedding in 5 seconds), and sprinkled like salt on their food.

I got some chick feed from the breeder (no mill date on the bag) that I then mixed with Scratch and Peck chick starter, which I know is fresh. I am laying off the herbs for a few days - good advice. I'll lay off the ACV as well. I've also been giving them filtered water until this morning - I switched to tap (chlorinated, municipal) water. Denver water is really pretty good. I'll see how that goes with them.

I've turned down the ambient heat altogether, so the room is just, well, room temperature (currently around 80 degrees as we head into memorial day heat waves). They still have a brinsea heating plate if they get cold. But she/they do drink a lot of water, so maybe bringing down the heat will help also.

I thank you for your questions and advice and look forward to any insights you have about the pix and the new info. Thank You!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I got some chick feed from the breeder (no mill date on the bag)

She is just adorable
I think Sussex are a little slow to feather in, some breeds or lines are, but I would expect slightly more feathering in if she is 6wks old. I think she should be fine with the ambient temperature and the heat plate as back up.

The Scratch and Peck, is that in crumbles or is it the "loose" feed where you see the peas, corn, barley, etc.? It does have a nice ingredient formula and vitamin mix, the problem some people have reported is that birds pick out what they like and leave the rest. Do you notice if she is possibly just picking out certain ingredients? And do they seem to leave a lot of the powder in the feeder?

Hopefully with taking away the extra heat you will see some changes. Water consumption plays a big role in the water poop.

Let me know how she's doing.

 

[henvy]

Hmmm. That's good point about picking out what they like and leaving what they don't. It's partly crumble and part whole grain. I'll have to think about that.

She is adorable. Oh my gosh. She is so adventurous, curious, determined. Love her to pieces.

Thanks SO much for your insights, observations, and questions!!!