Solid Black Poop?!?!?

[OkieB]

I have 62 hens... no one seems to be ill. This morning I found a runny pile of solid black poop. This is a 1st for me. It is impossible at this point to determine who it came from. Has anyone seen this? Know if it's a problem? Thanks in advance.

 

[azygous]

Have you by any chance been adding fire place ashes to your chickens' dirt bathing spot? When my chickens are dirt bathing in their favorite spot right after I've added ashes to it, their consumption of the charcoal bits causes solid black poop for a while afterward.

 

[OkieB]

Have you by any chance been adding fire place ashes to your chickens' dirt bathing spot? When my chickens are dirt bathing in their favorite spot right after I've added ashes to it, their consumption of the charcoal bits causes solid black poop for a while afterward.

Bingo! I dumped some ashes by my back fence 2 days ago. I bet you are right. Thanks for the reply. I was perplexed.

 

[azygous]

You might wish to keep doing it as the charcoal is good for them, although you don't want to mix it into their food.

Just be sure the ashes have no plastics or other harmful substances that have been burned. Newspaper and plain old wood, avoiding pressure treated wood scraps, are safe.