New adopted hens: would STRESS cause undigested food?

[SeaChick]

Hi-

We adopted two hens yesterday and are keeping them sperate from our other 4 girls for now. They seem fine, a little scared.... staying in one place mostly (I think because they don't know about wood shavings and are afraid to walk on them!:|)

BUT--- I just noticed that one girl, Penelope, is pooping strangely. It's basically just water with undigested food in it. The food pellets are still retaining their shape, pretty much, when they come out. What's up with that?

They are on layer pellets (although maybe a new brand to them, owner did not provide feed to mix) with DE mixed in, plus water with ACV for stress.

Should I be worried?? Has anyone seen this before?

Thanks!
Stacey

 

[SpottedCrow]

I wonder if she doesn't have enough grit in her crop to grind up her food.
I've not seen it before, but if they haven't been on ground, they may not be picking up the small stones that they use as teeth.
You can buy grit at the petshops in the bird aisle.

 

[SeaChick]

Hi Spotted Crow-
i am pretty sure that's not the problem as the home they came from had a aprox. 30 x 30 yard that the girls pecked around in, surely there was enough grit in the dirt there?! But -to be safe- I will give her a little dish of chick grit (which we offer free choice to our other girls) and see if that helps.
FWIW I looked at the poos on the ground at the home she came from (only 6 hens there) and they all looked normal to me. Weird, though, huh? I'll try the grit....
Stacey