Question about medicated starter feed

[nurseshelly]

Hi,
We just got our chickens on Sunday, they will be 3 weeks old tomorrow. I put them on the non medicated starter feed because that is what they were eating at the store. I have one chick who is starting to have a little bit of a less formed poop. It's not diarrhea, just not as formed as it should be. So I started them on medicated starter today. I'm cleaning their brooder frequently throughout the day and changing / cleaning everything every night. Is there anything else I should do?
Thanks!
Michele

 

[FMAFarms]

Sounds like you've got everything under control. Make sure that they have plenty of water, that their heat lamp is at the right height, that you've given them some sort of traction (paper towels, fine hardware mesh) over their bedding to keep them from becoming splay legged. No drafts. You might want to call the store you got the chicks from and ask if they've been vaccinated for coxi (might as well ask about if they'd been vaccinated for Marek's, too, while you're at it). Keep an eye on that little chick with the soft poops, though. Coxi is a digestive condition and if that little chick gets it, chances are all your birds may get it. You might want to separate him from the others until you're sure he's pooping okay again.

 

[nurseshelly]

Thank you

They seem to be perfect temperature wise too.
Michele

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

http://chat.allotment.org.uk/index.php?topic=17568.0
Here is the "poo page," where you can check to see if your chickens' poo is normal - they will have a liquid-type poo every so often that is called "caecal poo."

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=113244
see post #4

Take note that shed intestinal lining is reddish- and might easily be mistaken for bloody stools.