Watery poop

[crazychick26201]

I have four five week old chicks. I am feeding them medicated starter grower feed. Most poop is normal but one (and I’m not sure which one) has watery poop. I thought at first it was because they were drinking a lot of water. But I have been reading that I should perhaps start them on Corid. All are acting very energetic and completely normal. Eating well, and I wash the waterer and give fresh every day. I thought the medicated feed would prevent coccidiosis. Not sure what to do or if I should be concerned. Please advise. I am going away for 3 days and leaving them with a chick sitter. Worried!

 

[CabritaChicks]

Hi there! As someone who's been raising birds for 11 years (and who proudly calls herself a bit of a "poopologist"—yes, I’ve spent way too much time analyzing chick poop!), I totally get your concern. Watery droppings can be alarming, especially when you’re preparing to leave them in someone else’s care. But rest assured, occasional watery poop—especially when the chicks are drinking a lot, adjusting to new feed, or just growing rapidly—can be normal. Since they’re energetic, eating well, and acting like healthy chicks, that’s a really good sign. You're already doing the right things by keeping their waterer clean and observing their behavior closely.

Now, regarding Corid and medicated feed—this is where it gets a little nuanced. Medicated starter feed typically contains amprolium, which helps prevent coccidiosis but doesn’t guarantee immunity. Think of it as a buffer, not a bulletproof shield. If just one chick has watery poop and there are no signs of lethargy, puffing up, or blood in the stool, I personally wouldn’t jump straight to Corid, especially if you’re not sure which chick it is. But if symptoms escalate while you’re away—such as more chicks showing symptoms or a clear decline in activity—it might be good to have Corid on hand just in case, with instructions for your chick sitter. Safe travels, and I’m rooting for your fluffy crew!

Grow some fodder? That slows the rate of consumption, and honestly is fantastic for them.

 

[crazychick26201]

Thank you! I sent a fecal sample to a farm vet and she saw no sign of coccidiosis. However, she did see evidence of mites and something called stronglytes? She recommended treatment with ivermectin. However I double checked my chicks even with a magnifying glass under their wings, vent and back of neck and could see NO evidence of mites and they are not showing any symptoms. Still eating well, active, and flying around. I really have no idea what she is saying and cannot understand the ivermectin dosage as she got it straight from the internet and it is for hens of at least four pounds. I know what mites look like because my flock had them a couple years ago. We sprayed the hens and bedding with Elector psp. Took care of it. But I am not sure I can use it with baby chicks. Sooo, we totally cleaned the puppy play pen they are in, dusted the bottom with a bit of diatomaceous earth, but all new bedding in, and are hoping for the best while we are gone. I have raised five broods, all from an NPIP certified hatchery. I have not had this issue before. Part of me thinks that this vet is wrong because she is a large animal vet and only prescribes fir horses and cows.
I thank you for your positive response and help. You are very experienced! As am I, really, but I just wanted to be hyper careful and was not prepared for this vets diagnosis.

 

[CabritaChicks]

Thank you! I sent a fecal sample to a farm vet and she saw no sign of coccidiosis. However, she did see evidence of mites and something called stronglytes? She recommended treatment with ivermectin. However I double checked my chicks even with a magnifying glass under their wings, vent and back of neck and could see NO evidence of mites and they are not showing any symptoms. Still eating well, active, and flying around. I really have no idea what she is saying and cannot understand the ivermectin dosage as she got it straight from the internet and it is for hens of at least four pounds. I know what mites look like because my flock had them a couple years ago. We sprayed the hens and bedding with Elector psp. Took care of it. But I am not sure I can use it with baby chicks. Sooo, we totally cleaned the puppy play pen they are in, dusted the bottom with a bit of diatomaceous earth, but all new bedding in, and are hoping for the best while we are gone. I have raised five broods, all from an NPIP certified hatchery. I have not had this issue before. Part of me thinks that this vet is wrong because she is a large animal vet and only prescribes fir horses and cows.
I thank you for your positive response and help. You are very experienced! As am I, really, but I just wanted to be hyper careful and was not prepared for this vets diagnosis.

I often question the accuracy of certain care tactics that rely heavily on droipping samples—especially when the collection area isn’t completely sanitary or the sample gets compromised during travel. It can make things complicated, and misdiagnosis is more common than people realize. Of course, I don’t want to speak ill of anyone, and I wasn’t the one who did the examination, so what she said could absolutely be true. You should definitely consider her advice seriously.

That said, you know your chickens better than anyone. If she’s suggesting there’s a parasitic worm living in your soil that only one chick has contracted, I’d just gently point out that in most cases, you’d likely see symptoms showing up in more than one bird. Still, it’s never a bad idea to observe closely, maybe even get a second opinion if something feels off. Trust your instincts—they go a long way in this chicken-keeping life.

 

[crazychick26201]

I often question the accuracy of certain care tactics that rely heavily on droipping samples—especially when the collection area isn’t completely sanitary or the sample gets compromised during travel. It can make things complicated, and misdiagnosis is more common than people realize. Of course, I don’t want to speak ill of anyone, and I wasn’t the one who did the examination, so what she said could absolutely be true. You should definitely consider her advice seriously.

That said, you know your chickens better than anyone. If she’s suggesting there’s a parasitic worm living in your soil that only one chick has contracted, I’d just gently point out that in most cases, you’d likely see symptoms showing up in more than one bird. Still, it’s never a bad idea to observe closely, maybe even get a second opinion if something feels off. Trust your instincts—they go a long way in this chicken-keeping life.

Update: I trusted my gut and took another fecal sample to our regular vet this morning with specific instructions that she look for coccidiosis, stronglytes and mites. Results: negative on all three counts! So you were right, vets do make mistakes. The former vet’s diagnosis just did not make sense to me. And I do know my chickens. I have been doing this for 12 years! Thank you for your kind and encouraging response to my questions!