Posted on 11/19/2011 5:21:15 AM PST by simplesimon
We just recently purchased 6 Buff Orpington hens that are getting ready to turn 8 months old and were already laying.
Yesterday I noticed one of the girls has a black diarrhea.
Not sure if it's a "stress" or if it's food or illness causing it.
We currently give them layer crumble and have recently given them stale bread ( OMG They're like my labs with food , when it comes to stale bread lol ) and some cabbage leaves.
Just was wondering if anyone has had experience with black diarrhea in your hens and could offer some tips.
Hee.
My guess would be the cabbage leaves.
Here’s some on-line discussion that may be helpful:
The same thing happens to me when I eat cabbage...
Are they passing gas??
Are they logged in?
My dog and my chicks sharing kitchen scraps. When I make a 'clicking' sound, they all come a-running.
This is going to be fun!!
Can I ask you something? How is it that your dog doesn’t attack the chickens? Was he raised as a puppy around them or what? Super cool picture and your dog looks almost exactly like our GSD.
Its racist to only want white diarrhea.
This is just a basic observation - chicken droppings are both poop and urine - the white part is the equivalent of urine, the dark part is the poop. With diarrhea, I would guess there is little urine in the droppings, hence the largely black color.
If they are free ranging chickens it may have nothing to do with what you are feeding them. They may be getting something when they are out and about. Check the list of plants that are toxic to chickens to see if you have any of them growing in the area they have access to. Also make sure the water they drink is clean to make sure there is no bacteria. BTW if you just got them it may also simply be a change in diet.
Charts of good stuff and bad stuff. Good luck;)
http://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-Treats_Chart
What are your chickens’ names?
My New Hampshire Reds got into a Poke Berry bush here in Georgia (safe for birds) and the hen house looked like a blood bath; red diarrhea everywhere.
CUTE!
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