4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Groovychook]

I've been noticing some black poo's over the past few weeks but not been overly concerned as they seem to be of a healthy, firm consistency (the odd looser one) with bits of white in them. I've not a clue as to who's producing them because I've not had a lot of chances to chook watch with the awful weather.

 

I think it's down to just one of them as there was a collection of them in the same area of the the poo tray this morning. All I can find when I google black poo, is references to 'tarry' poo and I can't say that they look like that.

 

I'm having a bit of a crisis of confidence after loosing Ivy to Myco this week and am worried that I'm missing something! I should be up on my poo spotting after all these years but can't remember seeing so many black ones

 

Does anyone have any clues or advice?

[Beantree]

Sorry to say Groovychook, but in my experience black poos can be a sign of minor internal bleeding which may or may not resolve itself. They can however also result from eating black shelled sunflower seeds as we have a flock here fed on them. Some pick all the sunflower seeds out first, so they do the black poos. So it could also be something pigmented in their diet which one favours. We had green poos from one who picked out all the dried peas from the mixed grain. Fingers crossed for you it is a trivial thing.

 

As I think you know, black 'tarry' poos can be major internal bleeding.

[Groovychook]

Oh no!

 

I've just been out with them to try and identify who's producing them. I spotted my black araucana, Lola doing a bit of a squidgy black poo

 

She looks so healthy- bright eyes, glossy feathers, clean bottom. She's eating well and has orego stim in the water supply. She's just started laying too. What could cause internal bleeding?

[Beantree]

I haven't any idea Groovychook. Perhaps it's something triggered by the laying? Perhaps someone else on the forum can give some advice? If she is happy it can't be an immediate problem so it will be a case of wait and see.

[The Dogmother]

Couldn't say without examining her; if she's otherwise healthy looking, then I'd leave her be and just keep an eye on her. If you're at all uncertain about her, then take the hen and a poo sample to the vet.

 

Mine produced a lot of black poo last autumn when they managed to reach the berries on my Elderberry bush

[Groovychook]

Mine produced a lot of black poo last autumn when they managed to reach the berries on my Elderberry bush

Yes, I've noticed black poo before and been able to attribute it to eating berries but they've really not been able to do much free ranging what with all the rain. The run bedding is kept clean and they only have pellets, pellet porridge & bokashi in the morning and rarely get treats. I did wonder whether eating the mossy grass when they do get a chance to get out might have something to do with it but I'm sure it's just the one bird.

 

I'll keep my eyes peeled for now.

[Beantree]

What's this 'Orego Stim' that you are adding to the drinking water Groovychook? I was wondering if that was causing any cumulative effect problems? We add nothing to the drinking water at all as we don't want to discourage drinking as that brings a host of problems in itself.

[The Dogmother]

No problems with them not liking Orego-Stim!

 

I don't add it routinely, just if they seem off colour or there's evidence of any gut upset - read up about it and you'll see

[Groovychook]

No problems with them not drinking it here either

[The Dogmother]

We use Orego-Stim on most of the livestock here at work - I got the gamekeeper/stockman onto it when he had some stressed pheasant poults last year.... he thinks it's the best thing ever.

[Beantree]

Their web site says it cleans the gut lining and that rings alarm bells for me. Perhaps that process could be responsible for internal bleeding in the relatively fragile gut of poultry in some cases. Here's one who won't be using it and I suggest that you try omitting it from the drinking water to see if the poos return to their normal colour Groovychook.

[Groovychook]

No, not the case here but thank you for the suggestion

 

I'd actually run out of orego stim and have only recently been using it again. The black poo's had been noticed way before then.

This morning, the poo trays contained dark grey poo's- not as dark in pigment as previous days. I'm still monitoring her closely though and will take her along to the vet if I continue to be concerned.

[The Dogmother]

Mine used to regularly 'dose' themselves by eating the oregano growing in the garden they obviously like it and think it's beneficial... each to their own.