When your stomach rumbles
How to recognize diarrhoea in chickens
Like every other form of existence on this planet, chickens can also have diarrhea. In birds, unlike other creatures, the bladder outlet and the intestinal outlet are not separate, but together. This is called the cloaca. The urinary tract and the rectum come together and the excrement comes out of this one body opening. The egg also comes out of the cloaca. Normally, chickens have quite solid stools – in contrast to birds, which tend to leave blobs – which are greenish white. Depending on what the chickens have eaten, e.g. lots of berries from the garden, it can also have a reddish to really red tinge. So don’t immediately panic that it could be blood. As with us humans, if we eat a lot of spinach, our bowel movements will also be green… It is also important to take a close look at the chicken, does it make a sick, limp impression or does it otherwise look healthy and lively.
What types of diarrhea are there chickens
There is of course the most obvious variant that the chickens have eaten something that is simply a little more laxative than the other food and the stool is a little softer or creamier. Even if it is really liquid diarrhea, this does not mean that the animal has something bad. Especially if only one or two animals in the group have it. It can also happen that the animal has eaten something “wrong” or has been given something by humans and the body simply says “I don’t like it, it has to go”…
Recognizing pathological diarrhoea in chickens
If the diarrhea takes on strange colors, you should be alert, take a closer look and observe. If you have the opportunity and are not sure whether it is something serious, it is also advisable to separate the affected animal so that the others cannot become infected, if this has not already happened.
If the diarrhea is red, reddish or similar and you are sure that the feather friends have not eaten anything that could color the stool (berries, tomatoes, peppers …) you should take a stool sample to the vet, who can tell exactly what the cause is and initiate appropriate treatment.
Strong mustard yellow or sulphur colors can unfortunately indicate serious diseases such as blackhead disease. Especially if the animal also makes a very limp, possibly apathetic impression. Only a vet can help.
It is also possible that you will find the remains of parasites or their eggs in the droppings, as they can grow so large that you can see them with the naked eye. If you cannot identify the pest yourself, the vet can also help here.
Treating diarrhea in chickens
Diarrhea in “normal” colors usually indicates a worm infestation, especially if it is permanent. In this case, simply deworming usually helps and after a while the diarrhea disappears again once the body has got rid of the annoying parasites. If you do this regularly, the poultry should never be colonized with parasites in the first place. This would prevent this type of diarrhea from occurring in the first place.
Pieces of charcoal are also a great remedy for diarrhea if it is not caused by parasites. It is best to always offer these to the chickens, they will take them when they need them. Just like the charcoal tablets from the pharmacy.