Odd looking poop, eating excessive amounts of feed.

[frostic]

What do use as a dewormer?

Worms is still a possibility, & shouldn't be ruled out completely.

Safeguard dewormer, was suggested by a few people here years ago an been using it ever since. I used to use ivermectin paste but switched because getting flack jawed by a few that like drama so i switched to it.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Safeguard dewormer, was suggested by a few people here years ago an been using it ever since. I used to use ivermectin paste but switched because getting flack jawed by a few that like drama so i switched to it.

Oh, okay good.

That takes care of round worms, if there's tapeworms, it won't treat them.

I'd check for any signs of tapeworms.

 

[azygous]

@MysteryChicken nailed what I have just concluded. The symptoms and the poop match up with tapeworm or some other worm infestation. Since none are apparently sick as yet, I suggest gathering a few random poop samples from the flock and taking them to your vet for fecal float tests. That will identify what worm is in residence in the intestines and you will then be able to target that species with the appropriate worming med.

 

[frostic]

Oh, okay good.

That takes care of round worms, if there's tapeworms, it won't treat them.

I'd check for any signs of tapeworms.

yes I already checked and there is no sign of tapeworms.
I would not be here if there was.

I really believe it is something else. However I just remembered that she ate a huge cock roach the other day when i was out there moving my recycle bin, it ran out from under it and she slopped it up like it was dinner time about 3 days ago.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

So, I noticed that my chickens are eating a huge amount of feed for their normal amount. and drinking tons of water. about 3 times their normal amount.
I went out this morning to feed them and i see strange looking poop.

it has been way hotter than normal here. hitting 106 to 108F

I think you're good on de-worming.

Re-check the poop for the next few days and see that their crops are emptying overnight.
If the crops are not emptying, then let us know.

The extra water drinking is due to the heat. They may be drinking so much that it's flushing feed out before it's processed. Just a thought on that - I'm not 100% positive that's doable, but...

Any chance you have some rodents eating the food too? If you leave feed out, you may want to bring it in. I'm not sure how your setup is. I take up feed at night to deter critters. This time of year especially, I can get rats from the orchards...ugggh...I try to keep my traps going just in case.

If this is the first notice of droppings like that - I would be inclined to wait and see if there's a repeat.

 

[frostic]

@MysteryChicken nailed what I have just concluded. The symptoms and the poop match up with tapeworm or some other worm infestation. Since none are apparently sick as yet, I suggest gathering a few random poop samples from the flock and taking them to your vet for fecal float tests. That will identify what worm is in residence in the intestines and you will then be able to target that species with the appropriate worming med.

I highly doubt that it is worms but I will send poop samples to my local avian vet. but will take a few days to get results. they usually take 5 to 7 days to get results back.

 

[frostic]

I think you're good on de-worming.

Re-check the poop for the next few days and see that their crops are emptying overnight.
If the crops are not emptying, then let us know.

The extra water drinking is due to the heat. They may be drinking so much that it's flushing feed out before it's processed. Just a thought on that - I'm not 100% positive that's doable, but...

Any chance you have some rodents eating the food too? If you leave feed out, you may want to bring it in. I'm not sure how your setup is. I take up feed at night to deter critters. This time of year especially, I can get rats from the orchards...ugggh...I try to keep my traps going just in case.

If this is the first notice of droppings like that - I would be inclined to wait and see if there's a repeat.

feed is on a hanging feeder. no rodents or bugs can get to it. its just high enough for the chickens to get to it, had a bug problem when id feed them on the ground few years ago so now I hang the feeder. same with their water. I'm going to send some poo samples to the lab monday when they are open as Azygous suggested.

 

[frostic]

@Wyorp Rock crops are fine in the mornings. I have not had any crop issues since they was babies. knock on wood lol

 

[frostic]

Should I start adding apple cider vinegar to their water again? they seemed to like that last year when they was having dry poops and it seemed to even them out. I usually give them yogurt and have not been able to get them any for a few weeks. they love that and sometimes cooked turkey treats but have not given them that in a awhile, maybe a year ago.

 

[azygous]

Using the same worming med consecutively can result in decreased effectiveness as the worms develop tolerance to it. Therefore, it's a wise practice to alternated different worming meds each time you worm.

ACV won't hurt, but it's not likely to make a difference in this issue.