What could cause undigested seeds from scratch?

[ChooksChick]

I'm not sure who's doing it, because I've never caught her in the act, but one of my pullets or hens isn't digesting scratch.

I first noticed it when I gave them cantaloupe, and one poo the next day was full of seeds- now I see a pile or two daily with wheat, corn, and milo in it- a normal poo otherwise.

My girls roam freely over an 8-9000 sq. ft. backyard during the day, with lots of spots to get their own gravel, though I leave a bowl of granite grit out for them, too- and they have oyster shell, their own shells, grass, pellets, and crumble.

This has been obviously a lasting condition, as I noticed it first weeks ago. I don't think the bird could get nutrition if it weren't for the crumble being a processed food...

Anyone have experience with this or know what's causing it? Is it a harmful condition? Permanent?

ETA-Should have noted that the scratch is just a handful or two for a flock of 19 over the course of the day.

 

[mypicklebird]

For you to see lots of seeds in the poop, and you are only giving a small amount to many- I wonder if one of the chickens has a source you do not know about? Anyone hang out under a bird feeder? Fly over the fence to the neighbor's bird feeder? Sneaking into the scratch bag?

If they are confined- you they have a source of grit to be able to grind seeds? If confined and no grit source- add this and your problem may go away.

If free range, try stopping your scratch hand-out to rule out someone finding another source of seeds. When my birds used to scavenge under the wild bird feeder, I often saw seeds in their poop, and was not concerned.

 

[ChooksChick]

No other source- the bird feeders are in the side yard, and these guys are all in the back- they have tons of gravel and granite and whatnot from which to choose for grit.

I'm going to have to bring them in one at a time to see whose doing it- wait for a 'present...'

 

[Judy]

I wonder if it's a banty, and either the grit is a bit large for them to manage, or they just think it is? Sure sounds like someone isn't eating grit.

 

[ChooksChick]

I would think there's tons to choose from in the yard, but I'll go get some smaller grit from the pet store- I only have one real bantam, and I don't think it's her, but I have a Polish who isn't yet grown and a couple of Buttercups...they're on the small side.

Thanks!

 

[Judy]

Well, it's just a guess. Hope it works!

 

[georgem]

Have you considered chewing the seeds before giving them to your birds? I make sure all the scratch my birds receive is pre-masticated... that's what kids are for you know.

Maybe you could install a small rock garden -- could be pretty and utilitarian!

 

[ChooksChick]

How the heck are ya, George!!?

I have a bit of pre-mastication going on...but that's usually limited to the bananas...too ripe, they hit the grass...

...and it's not me, it's the kids who dump the stuff.

I shall soo have a rock garden, more than the gravel and rocks around the goldfish pond, and hopefully with plants that can withstand the chooks....

 

[threehorses]

It might be they don't like their grit. I find mine really love the mineralized pigeon grit, or oddly the chick-grit from CalfManna, etc (the little bag) as it has anise oil added and a red color (the minerals).

Otherwise I'd be concerned that the feed is passing through the digestive tract too quickly. I'd check all your birds' weights to see if any feel lighter - do this weekly for a month to make sure, or as long as you're seeing the other seeds.

here's a thought if you really want to know...

Give one bird a day a treat of something eaten quickly with a little food dye in it. The poop that has the color in it - well you know who did it.

 

[dlhunicorn]

info on POO (interpret what you are seeing)
http://dlhunicorn.conforums.com/index.cgi?board=poos&action=display&num=1158478320

» --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.avian.uga.edu/documents/pip/2006/PIP-Sept-Oct 2006.pdf
PATHOGENESIS OF ENTERIC DISEASE
(Frederic J. Hoerr,DVM, PhD,Diplomate ACVP,ACPVVeterinaryDiagnostic
LaboratoryAuburnUniversityAuburn, Alabama)

EXCERPT:
"FEED PASSAGE AND DIARRHEA
Feed passage is undigested particles of feed in the
feces and represents a loss of digestive efficiency.The economic consequences involve feed conversion, growth, carcass yield, and cost of production.
Feed passage usually occurs with diarrhea, which is
characterized by increases in the mass of feces, the
frequency of fecal passage, and/or the fecal fluidity.
Feed passage represents a malabsorption or
maldigestion syndrome that shares many of the same causes as diarrhea. For the purposes of this discussion, four underlying mechanisms of diarrhea and feed passage will be examined, according to the scheme of Crawford, 1997 (5). ...."

The following article has info specific to this specific symptom (feed passage) and reviews various factors assoc with it... please read and see if any may be applicable to your situation

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/VM090

Enteritis/dysbacteriosis and REO Virus and other factors causing gizzard erosion (> often present in birds often with few clincal manifestations except feed passage indicating malabsorption/maldigestion) >read here:
http://www.wattnet.com/Archives/Docs/701pi36.pdf?CFID=25710&CFTOKEN=74030876