Worrisome chicken poop

[Bean1980]

Hello there, I’m new to this site and new to raising chickens. Thus far (excluding the chick we lost less than 24 hours after purchase ) our flock of 7 hens has appeared to be in good health...until a few days ago. We have one red who showed little interest in eating, foraging, or staying with her flock. I brought her in last night to keep a closer eye on her and give her some TLC away from the other hens. Through the night she passed the stool pictured above. I haven’t seen anything like it in my google searches so far. What on earth is it and how can I prevent her from having this problem again? Thanks!

 

[extrememainer]

What kind of food are you giving her?

 

[Bean1980]

What kind of food are you giving her?

Standard layer feed, vegetable scraps from kitchen, oats, (very little) scratch grains on cold nights in the evening, plus whatever they forage during free range time. I recently started using straw for their bedding though and there looks to be quite a bit of that in the stool she passed :/

 

[coach723]

Do they have access to grit all the time? Can you break open or slice up that poo and get a good look at it and what it's really made up of, and if it's just grass, or what else is in there? It appears to be a lot of long fiberous grass, which can cause blockages, especially if they are not getting adequate grit. If there is long grass where they free range then I'd recommend mowing that shorter if possible also.

 

[rebrascora]

I was thinking it looked like she had eaten a feather or perhaps more than one but for it to come through her system semi intact is unusual and the worry would be that whether it is feathers or straw, there are/is more in her crop and gizzard, causing a partial impaction. That would certainly make her reluctant to eat if she is stopped back.
What does her crop feel like? Check first thing in the morning before she has had access to food to see if it is empty.
Is she keener to eat now that she has passed that or still acting unwell?
Did you dissect the poop at all? I know it seems disgusting but photos of it broken open may help. There are bits that look like they may be shed intestinal lining or possibly blood but with something that large and lumpy being passed it may well have caused some intestinal lining to tear away.
I would be inclined to get some probiotics to help her system balance itself if her crop is functioning and she has pooped other poops since this.... ie her digestive tract is still allowing some passage of food and waste.

 

[Newbiechickchic]

I've read no straw for bedding, as it can clog up their digestive tract and cause inability to move food, or, I guess clogged up poops. I use wood shavings only, or leaf/pine litter raked from the ground. Make sure they have grit or access to very tiny rocks.

 

[Bean1980]

Thank you to everyone for your responses and advice. I’m happy to report that Mary is back to her old active self. I did some dissecting of poo and it appeared to be mostly straw. I’ve read both negative and positive reviews on using straw as bedding. Overall though I don’t think the straw was as much of the culprit as my failure to provide adequate grit . I assumed that their free ranging time afforded them enough grit but I was obviously wrong. I’ve since remedied the problem and added in a few extra things to their care that I learned in my frenzied efforts to nurse Mary back to health. Thanks again for all your help!

 

[coach723]

Very glad your bird is OK!

 

[micstrachan]

Glad you figured it out! Gritvwas my first thought upon viewing the poop. Good job!