Chicken picking at feet

[chocrogers]

I've been keeping chickens for a whole 8 days now. I have two Rhode Island Reds, both about 6 months old.

The younger one seemed to have a bout of runny droppings just after she first arrived as the feathers round her vent were dirty for a few days. That's cleared up now, but for the last 3-4 days I have been finding bright red droppings around the hen house. I can't say for sure that the red colour is blood - it's almost too bright - more reddy-brown as you'd expect dried blood to be. It's also quite thick, not runny, like tomato puree!

 

Their breeder came to look at them and could see nothing physically wrong with either hen - both have eaten well. They free range in the garden and he asked if they had access to elderberries, but they don't.

 

Could this be something she's eaten, or a sign of a serious problem? She is not behaving as if she is unhappy. But I am!!

[Falkor]

Have a look here: http://www.chat.allotment.org.uk/index.php?topic=17568.0

 

A nice gallery of poo! Hopefully you will be able to match your hens to one here and discover answers.

 

Have your birds been wormed?

[Sammy]

Are you giving them any red treats, like tomatoes?

 

Have you put Stalosan F down? Just an idea but when I put it down my girls poos are quite red the day after - I guess they pick it up from the ground when pecking.

[chocrogers]

Thanks for your suggestions - I'm on my way to the poo gallery! No, have not given them red treats or used any substances that might have done this. If I get any answers I'll post them here in case they help anyone else...

[chocrogers]

Just checked out the poo gallery - the one that shows the shed lining of the intestine most closely matched my chicken's poo, and is described as normal (!). They have been wormed, yes. It was three days running and there is no evidence of red poo today, so maybe she's finished shedding her insides and is resuming normal service. I hope so!

[Jools]

Sometimes they expel a little gut lining too, particularly through the growing stages. It always gives me a bit of a shock too, but it passes pretty quickly - no pun intended! I must admit that I've taken to giving my growers Herban (an natural oregano based product) in their drinking water this year, mainly to prevent coccidiosis, but it seems to have reduced the scary poos too!

[chocrogers]

Great - it's even more reassuring to know that it's associated with the growing stage. She is not yet 6 months and not laying yet, comb is immature etc. Thanks for the tip!