Pale Comb + diarrhea = ???

[OtneyPrice]

I picked up 3 new chickens last week, among them two light 1 yr old Brahma hens. One hen, Rose, has a light pink comb/facial/wattle area. Her sister's is bright red. Now Rose has diarrhea - medium brown with a touch of green, like very thin pancake batter. She has a bit of staining on the back of her feathers (no clumps/vent buildup). (of course, white brahmas do have a lot of fluff back there...) It shoots straight out of her. Also, there seems to suddenly be a lot of white brahma feathers on the floor of the run. Could this be just cumulative stress of a move/some new coopmates/etc? She and her two friends were supposedly laying when I got them, but I've yet to see an egg. Their new accommodations are an improvement over the old, with some backyard free range time as well. All other chickens appear healthy. Should I wait and see, cull her, or is there a clear diagnosis for her symptoms? Any suggestions?

 

[seminolewind]

It might be stress of moving, maybe heat?
You might want to try some plain yogurt, and cooked white rice to bind her up. The yogurt has electrolytes in it, important if she has diarrhea.

 

[rooster-red]

Can you have a fecal done at a vets office?
It might just be parasites, but could be something else that could be passed on to the rest of the flock.

 

[sammi]

I think I would separate this hen with the diarrhea..
observe droppings and eating..
give the yogurt and rice mix..with layer feed available.

could be stress from the move and change of feed.

as for egg laying..it might take a while for them to resume laying until they adjust to their new situation.

a fecal check is a good idea.
they could have worms, or even cocci..(especially the hen with diarrhea)

try to find out what brand of feed they were use to.. and if it's different then what you use..try to get some and mix with yours gradually letting them get adjust to the new feed..
a quick change of feed can effect their system.

 

[OtneyPrice]

Thanks for the great input! She doesn't seem any worse this morning (no new staining on rump). I will definitely do the rice and yogurt combo today, and look into what her previous feed was.

 

[SpottedCrow]

If you're seeing feathers she might be moulting...a hen's face gets lighter when she's moulting...have you checked to see if she's been laying or if her sister has?
My Light Brahma, Slifer, used to do more "splort", the cecal droppings than her buddy, Obelisk a Leghorn did.

It's most likely stress from new surroundings, new food etc.

 

[OtneyPrice]

Thanks for the info - I didn't know there was a pale comb/molting connection. She seems to be eating and drinking fine, and the girls seem to be getting happier (I'm hearing some fine clucking now, still no eggs) and are becoming friendlier, so hopefully the poos are due to nerves...The watching continues.