Not digested food in poop

[123marti]

One of my hen's droppings has not digested food in it. She is three years old and I have never seen this before. I would add a picture but I'm not sure how.

 

[Nupe]

What are you feeding her? Does she have access to grit?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

One of my hen's droppings has not digested food in it. She is three years old and I have never seen this before. I would add a picture but I'm not sure how.

What feed is she passing undigested - is it commercial poultry feed (grower or layer rations) or grit, seeds, other non-water soluble foods? If it's any of the latter, does the bird have access to appropriate grit materiel?

 

[Amina]

http://www.plusvet.eu/undigested-feed-in-broiler-droppings-a-serious-problem-for-productivity/

According to this page, undigested feed in droppings can be caused either by a pathogen or by moldy chicken feed... Maybe try getting a new bag of feed, maybe of a different brand?

 

[Michael Apple]

Undigested food in droppings is one of many symptoms of enteritis. It is easier to prevent than treat since so many things like protozoa, pathogens, helminths can cause it. For bacterial/pathogens, I use Oxine AH at about 15 drops per gallon of water for a few days. Not feeding birds on the ground and keeping it available in clean troughs helps too. Furaltadone 20% powder is an effective treatment for bacterial infections in the gut. Treatment is 1 tsp for 5 days. Doxycycline soluble powder is another effective treatment and both can be found at most online pigeon supply houses. Tetracyclines and bacitricin treatments aren't as effective as they used to be, so I don't recommend them anymore.

Prevention with dispersible powder type probiotics used in weekly supplementation does make a difference. Well drained soil, sandy yards, and raking up excess droppings after they have dried helps too. Clean water receptacles are a must and fresh feed given daily. They pick up enough in the environment on their own, so providing clean troughs attracts them to that rather than something else. Vectors for intestinal worms prefer moist, shady areas, so keeping the pasture grass cut and brush trimmed back prevents population growth.

When birds have diarrhea, they lose their electrolyte balance which causes chronic diarrhea.Vitamin supplementation packs containing the B-complex vitamins and vitamins A, D, and E can help the birds endure the stress of enteritis. Make sure the amount of vitamin A does not exceed 8 times the level of vitamin D. Excess vitamin A will compete with the absorption of vitamins D and E, resulting in rickets or immune deficiency problems.
Dawes Stress-eez Plus is a well balanced vitamin-electrolyte formula which can be used regularly 3 x a week.

Casein protein, which is found in milk replacers, can be helpful during a bout of enteritis in the flock. Deny water for an hour or two to get them thirsty. Then Mix calf milk replacer according to the directions and dispense it into the drinkers until all the birds have had a chance to consume their desired amounts. Then, return the birds to consumption of water supplemented with electrolytes. Repeat this treatment for three days. The milk replacer, which contains casein that can coagulate in the gut, and stops the watery droppings. The milk replacer also supplies sufficient lactose to encourage the proliferation of lactobacilli and other beneficial bacteria which act to competitively exclude pathogenic organisms. Also, the milk provides a highly available source of phosphorus and other important nutrients for the bird. Be careful not to give the birds too much milk replacer because supplying too much lactose will cause osmotic diarrhea. Do not substitute powdered milk, as used during water vaccinations, for the calf milk replacer. Powdered milk does not contain sufficient casein and other important nutrients, so it is not as effective in controlling the diarrhea.

 

[Kateslilfarm]

Undigested food in droppings is one of many symptoms of enteritis. It is easier to prevent than treat since so many things like protozoa, pathogens, helminths can cause it. For bacterial/pathogens, I use Oxine AH at about 15 drops per gallon of water for a few days. Not feeding birds on the ground and keeping it available in clean troughs helps too. Furaltadone 20% powder is an effective treatment for bacterial infections in the gut. Treatment is 1 tsp for 5 days. Doxycycline soluble powder is another effective treatment and both can be found at most online pigeon supply houses. Tetracyclines and bacitricin treatments aren't as effective as they used to be, so I don't recommend them anymore.

Prevention with dispersible powder type probiotics used in weekly supplementation does make a difference. Well drained soil, sandy yards, and raking up excess droppings after they have dried helps too. Clean water receptacles are a must and fresh feed given daily. They pick up enough in the environment on their own, so providing clean troughs attracts them to that rather than something else. Vectors for intestinal worms prefer moist, shady areas, so keeping the pasture grass cut and brush trimmed back prevents population growth.

When birds have diarrhea, they lose their electrolyte balance which causes chronic diarrhea.Vitamin supplementation packs containing the B-complex vitamins and vitamins A, D, and E can help the birds endure the stress of enteritis. Make sure the amount of vitamin A does not exceed 8 times the level of vitamin D. Excess vitamin A will compete with the absorption of vitamins D and E, resulting in rickets or immune deficiency problems.
Dawes Stress-eez Plus is a well balanced vitamin-electrolyte formula which can be used regularly 3 x a week.

Casein protein, which is found in milk replacers, can be helpful during a bout of enteritis in the flock. Deny water for an hour or two to get them thirsty. Then Mix calf milk replacer according to the directions and dispense it into the drinkers until all the birds have had a chance to consume their desired amounts. Then, return the birds to consumption of water supplemented with electrolytes. Repeat this treatment for three days. The milk replacer, which contains casein that can coagulate in the gut, and stops the watery droppings. The milk replacer also supplies sufficient lactose to encourage the proliferation of lactobacilli and other beneficial bacteria which act to competitively exclude pathogenic organisms. Also, the milk provides a highly available source of phosphorus and other important nutrients for the bird. Be careful not to give the birds too much milk replacer because supplying too much lactose will cause osmotic diarrhea. Do not substitute powdered milk, as used during water vaccinations, for the calf milk replacer. Powdered milk does not contain sufficient casein and other important nutrients, so it is not as effective in controlling the diarrhea.

Furaltadone 20% powder - 1 tsp for 5 days, how is that administered? Mixed in water or something else? TIA!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Furaltadone 20% powder - 1 tsp for 5 days, how is that administered? Mixed in water or something else? TIA!

Instructions would be on your package, but yes, it's mixed in water.