Need a 2nd opinion on poop/underweight bird

[4xhennifer]

I have seen the chicken chick’s poop guide and felt that these poops were normal cecal poop. However, my 7 week old girls just had a flock check and the vet said one of them is a little underweight and underdeveloped. Additionally they have these wet poops about every 4-7 poops. Here are some additional details:

1. The bird in question has always been a bit more aloof and definitely more animated with the other girls. Running around, squaring up with them. Etc. she is definitely a pullet (I recently had them DNA gender tested to be sure).

2. I noticed today that she flicks out her crumble and only eats the pieces she likes. 1 and 2 together with the diagnosis from the vet makes me think she’s not getting enough protein.

3. My vet said they should only have 1 or 2 of these wet poops a day, which is not what I had come to learn. But, I have been worried about the poops since day 1 even though all of my research said it was just cecal poop. She took samples to do a float test for coccidiosis. So we’ll see. There are no other symptoms besides the poop and maybe the underweight bird but I think that has more to do with her picking through the food. Pics of a normal poop and a wet poop laid within 5-10 min of each other by the same bird (not the bird in question, but they all have the same normal and then wet poo rhythm) are below.

So here are my questions:

Number 1: best method to get extra protein in to the bird in question? She doesn’t like meal worms.

Number 2: what say you about the frequency and consistency of the poop? Should they really only have 1 or 2 of these a day??

Any other observations from the above are appreciated. TIA!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Additionally they have these wet poops about every 4-7 poops

I noticed today that she flicks out her crumble and only eats the pieces she likes

Where are you located in the world?
Your vet give flock check ups?
Do you run a commercial operation?

Poops look normal to me. I see a "normal" well formed poop and a classic cecal poop.

What are you feeding? You mention crumbles, but she's only eating pieces she likes? Is this chick starter or a loose type feed that has loose corn, peas, oats, etc. in it?
It's not uncommon for chickens to dig through feed and pick out what they think looks tastiest, even if it's in pellet or crumble form.

Her nutritionally balanced poultry feed/chick starter is the BEST method of getting nutrition into her.

If she's eating/drinking/active/moving about with her flock...then I wouldn't worry too much. Even within the same hatch, same breed, you will have differences in growth rate and weights.

 

[4xhennifer]

Where are you located in the world?
Your vet give flock check ups?
Do you run a commercial operation?

Poops look normal to me. I see a "normal" well formed poop and a classic cecal poop.

What are you feeding? You mention crumbles, but she's only eating pieces she likes? Is this chick starter or a loose type feed that has loose corn, peas, oats, etc. in it?
It's not uncommon for chickens to dig through feed and pick out what they think looks tastiest, even if it's in pellet or crumble form.

Her nutritionally balanced poultry feed/chick starter is the BEST method of getting nutrition into her.

If she's eating/drinking/active/moving about with her flock...then I wouldn't worry too much. Even within the same hatch, same breed, you will have differences in growth rate and weights.

First of all, thank you for this. I’ve been a wreck since her visit yesterday and didn’t expect to get this kind of feedback from their vet.

Second, here’s to the answers to your q’s:

1. I live in Southern California. Our temps are in the mid 60s during the day, and low to mid 50s at night.

2. These are backyard chooks. I have 4 of them. I live in a place where there are a lot of farms, so avian vets are thankfully easy to come by. This one is mobile and comes to you, which is awesome.

3. They are all exclusively on chick starter and grower 18% crumble. In fact, it’s all they like to eat other than grass and the occasional bug while foraging.

4. Completely normal activity. Eating, drinking, and flapping about.

Thank you!