Should I be concerned???

[Monrjones]

I have one month old baby Dominique chickens and some of them have started to have a soft runny poop and sneezing is this something I need to be concerned about? I have been told to start hard boiling eggs and smash it up and feed it to them so I have been doing that. I have well water so from the beginning I have been giving them electrolytes and probiotics in their water. Is there anything else I should do for them, they all seem to be eating well and drinking lots of water. They have a large pen to run around in and I use straw for their bedding and I change it every other day I have given them Water to play in that I change everyday and I bathe them in warm water with epsom salt every couple days (4-5 days) to help keep them clean what else should I do or is this something that is normal?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

You are WAY over doing it! Epsom salt is a flushing agent, so if they drink any while you are bathing them it can cause the runs. Chickens don't need water to play in except maybe if it's scorching where you are. No electrolyte or other any supplement should be given for more than 10 days in a row. Straw sucks as bedding in my experience, as the poos often sit on top and form a mat. I am using up the left over hay I have though, because it's paid for. I also have well water and NEVER supplement UNLESS someone shows signs of needing it or for fresh shipped chicks.

What you should do for them is RELAX a little! You are never going to keep a chicken super clean. they scratch poo. Unless you are planning to show, why bathe them.. you may be stripping their natural oils that protect them from the environment, And they should have DIRT to bath in. These are chickens not ducks. Chickens dirt bathe to stay parasite free. Smashed boiled egg is good for a treat and sometimes to help a failing chick or bird who need the extra boost. If your chicks are getting crazy pasty butt and giving them boiled egg clears that then a change in feed is needed.

If it's hot and they are drinking lots of water as you say, poos will be runnier because that's how they excrete their liquid as well.

What are you feeding (protein %) including treats?

Please don't let my statements sound harsh! That is not how they are meant. No judgement here! We all do our best. And BYC is a safe and caring community.

Yes sneezing is an issue as far as I can tell... unless it's a side effect of dirt bathing or other dusty activities. If you are supplemented to the hilt, you won't have any room to help out if they do come into issues. If you insist on supplementing like that, maybe do so once a month.

Does their pen have access to green stuff in it, plants? Since you seem determined to do everything you can for your birds (awesome by the way), maybe consider fermenting your feed. Check out the link in my signature line. The thing that made me stick with fermenting, aside from the reported health benefits was the serious reduction in how bad the poo stinks! I save about 10% off my feed bill.

Hope you enjoy it here!

 

[Monrjones]

Thank you for your information. No offence taken. I am new to this and I will take everything I can get. I have taken your advice and things are starting to look better already. So again thank you. I dont want to over do it or hurt them.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Thank you for your information. No offence taken. I am new to this and I will take everything I can get. I have taken your advice and things are starting to look better already. So again thank you. I dont want to over do it or hurt them.

Glad to hear it's getting better.

That picture there is a handsome little boy!