Poo as big as golf balls ???

[tri-5-ron]

Well almost.
but some of them ARE as big as walnuts!

My 6 birds are all standard sized, (not Bantams), and are 21 weeks old now.
I've just got my first 2 eggs, from my Australorp in the last 3 days.

I realize that Standard size birds do poop big,
but these is almost TWICE the size to what I'm used to seeing from my birds.

The BO, BPR, and RIR, are looking like they will be laying their first eggs soon.
(deep red combs/waddles, squatting, etc.)

My 2 EE's don't look to be quite ready for egg laying yet.
(pink combs/waddles, no squatting)

I'm not sure which ones are laying down these "landmines", but WOW !

It has been unseasonably cool here in So. Cal. for the past month,
but today the weather has caught up to the season, and we are just hitting 98/100 degrees.

Would the temp change have anything to do with it ?

Is this anything to be concerned with?

 

[NanoByte]

That doesnt sound right, adult poo is meant to be as big as two marbles with gooey stuff around it. Usually white and brownish.

 

[elmo]

Are any of your hens acting broody? Broody poop is huge (because it accumulates) and very, very, very...oh my goodness!..stinky.

 

[LeezyBeezy]

I notice some poops like that about once aweek. I figure it's just the bird...

 

[tri-5-ron]

Quote:
I've not noticed them acting broody, but they are only 21 weeks old.
I've only gotten my first 2 eggs from one of the hens so far.
none of the others have started laying yet.

How do you tell if they are acting broody?

 

[elmo]

Sorry, missed the part about the hens being so young. Yes, that would be early to start going broody.

We joke about how broodiness looks like major league PMS. A broody hen will shriek and/or growl, and puff up her feathers when approached. She'll also hang out in the nestbox way longer than usual. When she stays there overnight, that's a good sign she's serious about hatching out some eggs.

 

[The Chicken Lady]

No other animals are able to get into the coop or run with your birds, right?

 

[tri-5-ron]

Quote:
correct, other than maybe a sparrow or rat.
These are deffinately "products de poulet"

 

[TipsyDog]

The giant poops are normal. Mine do it too. From my experience, they do those once in awhile after laying. Seems they sit in the nest box for a hour or more and poop must accumulate, then you'll get a giant one. I find them mostly within 35 feet of my coop, but nowhere else. That's why I think it's from when they leave the nest box after sitting so long. And yes, they can be as big as an egg!

 

[lishah2000]

I have three hens and one roo in a small coop. Two of the hens seem to "hold it" at night and leave big droppings shortly after leaving the coop. Don't know why they do it, but it helps keep the coop cleaner. They have never been broody and go normal the rest of the day.