Smelly pullets?

[bhawk-23]

I have no idea where to post this. A search on here has not really given any clear answers.

I bought 4 (3-4 week old) chicks in early June. Inside, during isolation. I noticed their poop smelled different than any of my other chickens but figured it would sort out. I treated them for coccidiosis that they came with and Tylosin when I introduced them to my (MG positive) flock.

They seem healthy. Fitting in nicely with the others. Eating and growing well. I cannot see anything visually wrong health wise.

Their poop still smells really weird. And as they grow it is really getting bad inside my open air coop. I clean it completely and the very next morning it stinks like a barn. And yes, I have reduced myself down to comparing poop smells from theirs and my other girls. I have zero clue what could be causing this odd odor if they are eating and foraging the exact same as my flock for 10-ish weeks. And it’s getting worse as their poops get bigger!

I hope someone has a suggestion, or possibly a solution, for my very weird problem.

Thanks!

 

[townchicks]

I have no clue why this is occurring but maybe try some probiotics.

 

[bhawk-23]

I have no clue why this is occurring but maybe try some probiotics.

Thank you, should I wait until after the flock finishes a Corid treatment?

I am questioning my sanity every time I smell my coop. In over 3 years chicken keeping I’ve not dealt with a barnyard smelling coop. The upper coop where the bigger girls go to lay does not smell like this and the pullets do not go up there since integration. I do realize it just does not seem logical whatsoever.

 

[LaFleche]

am questioning my sanity every time I smell my coop.

It is perfectly understandible and sensible to rely on your sense of smell as it would notify and even warn you if anything is "off".

 

[townchicks]

Thank you, should I wait until after the flock finishes a Corid treatment?

I am questioning my sanity every time I smell my coop. In over 3 years chicken keeping I’ve not dealt with a barnyard smelling coop. The upper coop where the bigger girls go to lay does not smell like this and the pullets do not go up there since integration. I do realize it just does not seem logical whatsoever.

I don't think probiotics would interfere with the Corid, you don,t want to use vitamin supplements with that though.

 

[bhawk-23]

I don't think probiotics would interfere with the Corid, you don,t want to use vitamin supplements with that though.

Thank you, I knew vitamins were a no but I’m glad to know probiotics are ok. I will start them with the fresh solution tomorrow morning.

 

[townchicks]

Keep us posted, this is an interesting question.

 

[bhawk-23]

Keep us posted, this is an interesting question.

Update:
They had finished the Corid treatment and I continued the probiotics for a few days. The stink subsided and no more intestinal lining was seen.

It was time for their monthly MG treatment so I stopped the probiotics. That was finished on Sunday. All seemed well.

It’s Thursday now and the stink is coming back and I see some more intestinal lining in the pullets poop. Two poops had it.

This is really weird…….any thought? I do know it’s the pullets, I check general roosting areas every night. I’ll watch closer to specific placements of each pullet and see if I can narrow it down to one. I’ll start probiotics again and will bring another fecal sample for testing in a day or two. Seriously though, wth?

 

[townchicks]

Thank for the update. Certainly another round of probiotics can't hurt. No idea what is going on, though.

 

[bhawk-23]

@townchicks @LaFleche

So my life literally exploded after this thread. Flew to NC to pick up my daughter, her 2 cats and 1 dog, rented a car and drive her home. My tiny house was overstuffed for the past 4.5 months. But I am starting to come out of that chaotic haze that had become my life.

Anyways, I have a funny update! The smell was coming from 3 totes of dug up hostas I forgot about. It would come and go and smell stronger by their roost because the totes were outside of but near that part of the coop. I think the weather must have been affecting it somehow. I felt so so bad for the girls so hostas were transplanted and survived and the chickens are all fine. And no more really weird smelling poops

Hope everyone is doing well!