Bright green poop - help please

[Winniethesilkie]

Hi, I have a 4 year old barred rock hen who is sick. Her comb is pale and flopped over, she walks slow and has lost weight. She also has bright green poop. Two days ago I washed her after these pictures and now her poop is like water/foam and still green. She appears to be eating and drinking, still runs at food when thrown out, but not sure if shes just pretending as she feels skinny. My other 9 hens are acting fine.

It's been 3 days since I noticed. I've given plain yogurt, boiled eggs (she definitely ate that) ACV in water and poultry 911 in another water. She isn't laying which isn't unusual for her.

I can bring her inside in a kennel and treat her if needed, I'm just unsure what to give her? We have a vet here who will see chickens but also unsure if they'd be able to help.

Thank you for any advice. Maxine is one of the best we have had and I just want to help her. Sorry for gross picture. Her comb is a lot more pale in person, the picture makes it look darker red.

 

[IwuvMyChickens]

This could be one of two things to explain the poop. Number one, since she's sick and she's eating grass, which is hard for a chicken to process and makes everything harder to digest, explaining the weight loss and the green you may see might be the non fully processed grass. Or number two, she has an infection that's spreading in her large intestines and some comes out in her poop. I believe based on what I can see I believe its more likely number one, if its number one she might not even be sick but eating grass makes her not feel well, stop nutrients from going to the body (more like makes it harder to not stops) and can leave her dehydrated, resulting in a pale comb. And because it's hard to digest it comes out in the poop still intact. If it is number two, then you can give her erythromycin or oxytetracycline, keep her well hydrated and separated because if the green in the poop is an infection you don't want your other hens to eat that.

In conclusion It's more likely number one, that she's eating grass or weeds or something. So just try to prevent that and keep her hydrated, also strawberries are FULL of nutrition, so that will be a nice treat. If it's number two she might not make it but it's very unlikely that it's number two. I'm so sorry for your concern I hope this helps!!!

 

[nuthatched]

What's their normal diet?

 

[Winniethesilkie]

What's their normal diet?

They do free range so lots of bugs but they eat nutrena laying hen crumble or all flock crumble, and are constantly given fruit and vegetables that we have leftover

 

[Winniethesilkie]

This could be one of two things to explain the poop. Number one, since she's sick and she's eating grass, which is hard for a chicken to process and makes everything harder to digest, explaining the weight loss and the green you may see might be the non fully processed grass. Or number two, she has an infection that's spreading in her large intestines and some comes out in her poop. I believe based on what I can see I believe its more likely number one, if its number one she might not even be sick but eating grass makes her not feel well, stop nutrients from going to the body (more like makes it harder to not stops) and can leave her dehydrated, resulting in a pale comb. And because it's hard to digest it comes out in the poop still intact. If it is number two, then you can give her erythromycin or oxytetracycline, keep her well hydrated and separated because if the green in the poop is an infection you don't want your other hens to eat that.

In conclusion It's more likely number one, that she's eating grass or weeds or something. So just try to prevent that and keep her hydrated, also strawberries are FULL of nutrition, so that will be a nice treat. If it's number two she might not make it but it's very unlikely that it's number two. I'm so sorry for your concern I hope this helps!!!

Thank you so much!! I will get some strawberries today just for them. What you said makes me feel a lot better and makes sense since it's been a few days. She does free range too!

 

[IwuvMyChickens]

Thank you so much!! I will get some strawberries today just for them. What you said makes me feel a lot better and makes sense since it's been a few days. She does free range too!

Oh good! I'm so glad you feel better good luck!

 

[nuthatched]

They do free range so lots of bugs but they eat nutrena laying hen crumble or all flock crumble, and are constantly given fruit and vegetables that we have leftover

Ok, the constant extras will not help your birds, especially things high in carbs and fat. (Like eggs).
That bright green doesn't look like grass to me, have you ever wormed then?
When did she last lay.

 

[Winniethesilkie]

Ok, the constant extras will not help your birds, especially things high in carbs and fat. (Like eggs).
That bright green doesn't look like grass to me, have you ever wormed then?
When did she last lay.

I would say maybe 5-7 days ago, I have 2 barred rocks so sometimes it's hard to tell what day. She doesn't lay often for the last 6 months but always has healthy eggs when she does. I havent wormed them before, not sure what I'd give? I don't give eggs often but I did bring her some because someone suggested it to see if she's eating which she did

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Cut out the fruits and veggies, or at least cut way down. She needs the nutrients of the balanced commercial feed, and if they fill up on other goodies they don't eat enough feed and so don't get all the nutrients they need to stay healthy. Do you provide grit, available 24/7?

 

[Winniethesilkie]

Cut out the fruits and veggies, or at least cut way down. She needs the nutrients of the balanced commercial feed, and if they fill up on other goodies they don't eat enough feed and so don't get all the nutrients they need to stay healthy. Do you provide grit, available 24/7?

Yes grit and oyster shells, I will stop extras for now! I gave her nutri drench directly and she ate some food a little after. Do you suggest separating or any medication? It is almost 100 degrees here and there are wildfires effecting air quality, but she's the only one who is sick so not sure if that's related. Thanks for all of your help