Runny Poop

[Frankenfield]

Hello! I am new to the chicken world. I have a 17 week old Olive Egger whose poop seems abnormal. I recently purchased her and 3 other pullets a week ago. She is eating, drinking, scratching, and acting like a normal chicken as far as I can tell. I spend between 30 minutes to an 1 hour a day with them trying to gain their chicken trust. They eat a layer feed. They are currently confined to their coop and run. I haven’t seen any evidence of mites or other bugs on them or in their coop.

See picture below:

Do you think I should switch to a grower feed since they aren’t laying yet?

Also, does this look like a parasite or something else?

 

[azygous]

How long ago did you install these new chickens in their new home? Have they been scratching and digging in the soil since you brought them home? Do you know if they received any vaccinations for coccidiosis?

 

[Frankenfield]

It has been a little over a week. The coop and run are leftover from a previous owner of the property. We had chickens in the area before but they were killed by a predator. We have since beefed up the coop protection. Yes, they have been digging and scratching in the dirt. They don’t have any vaccinations.

 

[azygous]

The one week is long enough for coccidia normally in all soils to infect these chickens who are new to the locale. It's soon enough where your shouldn't see any serious illness or deaths, but I suggest you start treating for coccidiosis immediately.

Buy some liquid Corid at your nearest feed store if you live in the US. If in Europe or Asia, you will need to find a source for amprolium.

Mix the Corid into the drinking water at two teaspoons to one gallon. Mix fresh each day for five days. Take a one week breather and treat again for another five days to fill any parasites that have recently hatched in the intestines.

By the way, it would remove a lot of guesswork if you would fill out your profile with your location so we don't have to give you such broad instructions to include the entire world.

On the question of layer feed, you should feed a high protein all flock feed until after the birds are laying.

 

[Frankenfield]

Thank you for your help. I will treat immediately.

Also, I didn’t realize I could fill out that profile info. Whoops! I live in Virginia, US.