Odd Poop - Advice Appreciated

[JacksFlock24]

Hi all. I'm new here with my first ever flock. Didn't want to be that person to immediately start asking for help but this one has me worried. I have 8 baby chicks all female and 10 days old. Someone left this poop a few mins ago and it looks reddish brown. I can't tell if its blood or something else. They have never been outside, no soil exposure, we wash hands before handling, etc. So I really don't think it could be coccidiosis, but who knows. They are all eating, drinking, and acting normally. Should I worry or just keep an eye on them?

 

[nuthatched]

Likely intestinal shed, it's normal.

 

[TOMTE]

Keep an eye on them. It's actually beneficial, if you can, to bring in a little soil and grass from outside for them to pick through. That way their immune systems will get a bit of a boost, sort of like a flu shot. Because if there are any viruses or suchlike in the ground, it's better that you accustom their bodies to them early.

If you do that, provide them with some chick grit, so if they eat the grass they can more easily digest it.

 

[Sally PB]

https://the-chicken-chick.com/whats-scoop-on-chicken-poop-digestive/
This site has a lot of poop pictures, showing what's normal and what is not.

 

[Bawkbok]

Hi all. I'm new here with my first ever flock. Didn't want to be that person to immediately start asking for help but this one has me worried.

Hello and welcome to BYC. Congratulations on your new baby flock. This is the right place to seek help. Good luck.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi all. I'm new here with my first ever flock. Didn't want to be that person to immediately start asking for help but this one has me worried. I have 8 baby chicks all female and 10 days old. Someone left this poop a few mins ago and it looks reddish brown. I can't tell if its blood or something else. They have never been outside, no soil exposure, we wash hands before handling, etc. So I really don't think it could be coccidiosis, but who knows. They are all eating, drinking, and acting normally. Should I worry or just keep an eye on them?

Welcome To BYC

Eating/drinking and acting normal is good. Behavior often is key to recognizing whether there's a problem or not.

It does look like a bit of intestinal shedding. For me, if this is consistent, I'd give a round of Corid.

 

[JacksFlock24]

Keep an eye on them. It's actually beneficial, if you can, to bring in a little soil and grass from outside for them to pick through. That way their immune systems will get a bit of a boost, sort of like a flu shot. Because if there are any viruses or suchlike in the ground, it's better that you accustom their bodies to them early.

If you do that, provide them with some chick grit, so if they eat the grass they can more easily digest it.

Thanks for the tip! I read about grit but didn't really understand when to use it. Their starter food said it doesn't need anything additional. When you bring in the grass, do you just leave a chunk of it in their area or do you break it up and leave it all around? Also, do you leave the grit in a separate bowl or does it get sprinkled around by the grass?

 

[JacksFlock24]

Welcome To BYC

Eating/drinking and acting normal is good. Behavior often is key to recognizing whether there's a problem or not.

It does look like a bit of intestinal shedding. For me, if this is consistent, I'd give a round of Corid.

Thanks so much. It's been about eight hours and I haven't seen anything else red. I didn't have Corid on hand so I just ordered some from Amazon. Sounds like a lot of people keep it in their stash for emergencies so I'll have it in case I need it.

 

[Bawkbok]

For future reference and to save on shipping, TSC (Tractor Supply) usually has it on hand on their shelf.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thanks for the tip! I read about grit but didn't really understand when to use it. Their starter food said it doesn't need anything additional. When you bring in the grass, do you just leave a chunk of it in their area or do you break it up and leave it all around? Also, do you leave the grit in a separate bowl or does it get sprinkled around by the grass?

Thanks so much. It's been about eight hours and I haven't seen anything else red. I didn't have Corid on hand so I just ordered some from Amazon. Sounds like a lot of people keep it in their stash for emergencies so I'll have it in case I need it.

Yes, Corid is something that a lot of us keep on hand, especially during chick season. Amazon is usually cheaper than TSC, or atleast where I live. About $10 less.

As for giving the chicks grit (Crushed Granite), it's a good idea even if you are only feeding chick starter. Some folks don't provide grit until they introduce other things like scratch, that's o.k. if you wish to do that. Me, grit is a pet peeve of mine - I have grit available first thing - it's in the brooder and once out of the incubator, just hatched chicks will pick up a piece or two of grit. My Mama hens, one of the first things I see her do is take chicks to feed, water and grit...

Anyway. To give a plug of sod/dirt. I'd source that from the area in which you plan on them living, say from your run. Since your chicks are on puppy pads right now, I'd just place the plug right on the bedding. The chicks will explore and eventually start digging about at it. If the plug has grass or weeds in it, that should be fine. They will probably take a nip here and there.

If you have established flocks, coops/runs and are going to eventually introduce these chicks to those flocks or areas where other chickens are living. Gather a little loose dirt from the run(s) and add that along with the plug of sod so the chicks have exposure to the pathogens and poop of the other chickens. Hope that makes sense. In the past, when I've raised chicks indoors, I did this. Now, I don't raise them inside, they go outside at hatch and are brooded in a secured area within the runs/coops, so they are immediately exposed to just about everything or I broody raise chicks, and let them get exposure by roaming around the flock with Mama Hen.