Wet poops

[flockmomma]

It seems like some of my flock's poops are kind of wet. Not all the time, but I usually notice this after I shoo them out of my way when I am coming through with water or something. I see some in there that look normal, but I am seeing these when I shoo them out of my way.

The first monster poo is from my turkey:

This was just on the ground near the gate.

Is this something that should concern me? Aside from the turkey, they are all doing their best to escape and free range a good bit of the day. Well, Lucy free ranges her happy butt wherever the people are so that she can mooch food (what can I say, she is so cute with her cross beak and her EE fluffiness). It has been warm during the heat of the day here, especially for this part of Wyoming.

 

[flockmomma]

Any thoughts?

 

[chick chicks]

If it is warm where you are they will be drinking more during the day and this can cause runnier poops, as long as you are seeing normal poops from all of them an occasional runny poop wouldn't concern me.

 

[flockmomma]

Yeah, we just set them up with a three gallon waterer, so they are probably drinking a lot. They had two smaller waterers before, but I needed to clean and use those for babies I just got. I added electrolytes and probiotics to their water again since it is hot and they are drinking more. They also were due to be fed again, so maybe that is why there was more moisture in their stools?

 

[chick chicks]

That could also add to it.

 

[cherry0]

My chicks are 8 weeks old today. For about a week or two their poop has been watery & some look like a dark paste. Our weather has just turned hot within the last few weeks (97 degrees today) & they are drinking a lot of water. They are still in their "brooder" until we finish their coop (which is soon I hope), but I let them out into the yard & flower beds twice a day. They are on medicated starter feed & we give them greens like chard & spinach once a day. I'm worried about the consistency of the poop. Do you think it's just the amount of water they are now drinking or could something be wrong?

 

[Haunted55]

My chicks are 8 weeks old today. For about a week or two their poop has been watery & some look like a dark paste. Our weather has just turned hot within the last few weeks (97 degrees today) & they are drinking a lot of water. They are still in their "brooder" until we finish their coop (which is soon I hope), but I let them out into the yard & flower beds twice a day. They are on medicated starter feed & we give them greens like chard & spinach once a day. I'm worried about the consistency of the poop. Do you think it's just the amount of water they are now drinking or could something be wrong?

Chard and spinach can both cause dark poop. So can eating dirt. Could some of these be cecal poop? Every 8-10th dropping is what is called a cecal poop. It's nasty smelling and can be dark and sometimes even show a bit of blood and lining of the cecum. If your birds aren't showing signs of a coccidiosis outbreak, I wouldn't worry too much. The heat affects everything, us, chickens, etc.. Here's some tricks to help them deal with the heat....ice cubes in the waterer will lower their internal temp so they need less to keep cool. A shallow roasting pan with a couple of inches of water in it and a frozen block, you have already made with fruit, vegetables, whatever they like, floating in the water. Yes chickens do like to play in water when it's hot. By their brooder, you could set up a fan that blows across the top of the brooder, not into it. Going across the top pulls out the heat away from them, blowing on them, not so good. that would be a draft and that can and will cause it's own problems. Yes, even if it's hot, a constant breeze on them isn't good. Just my 2 cents.

 

[cherry0]

Yes, I have seen 1 drop of blood! But, I don't know what cecal poop is! Could they have a disease?

 

[cherry0]

I also do have a ceiling fan blowing on them. They seem to like it. Should I change to a fan blowing across them? Why is a ceiling fan bad for them?

 

[Haunted55]

Yes, I have seen 1 drop of blood! But, I don't know what cecal poop is! Could they have a disease?

http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/02/whats-scoop-on-chicken-poop-digestive.html

Of course they could, but I don't think so in this case. Unless you missed some symptoms in your post, there's nothing there to make me think there is. Just keep your eyes open and watch for the signs of cocci. If they start, treat with Corid.

I also do have a ceiling fan blowing on them. They seem to like it. Should I change to a fan blowing across them? Why is a ceiling fan bad for them?

Chickens are quite delicate when it comes to things like drafts. Depending on how you have the fan blowing, up or down, the speed of the moving air, etc., you could be lowering their body temps too quickly and setting them up for lower resistance to illness. If it's a ceiling fan, have it pull the air up and just have it on a low speed. If you can't control the speed or direction, move them away from the flow. Moving air is good, moving air blowing on them constantly is a draft, not good.