Red bits in chick poo

[BabyBantam]

Small issue this morning.
A couple of the poos laid by the chick/s first thing this morning have red bits in. Looks a bit like the poo adults lay when they are shedding their linings. The chicks are all active and don't look sick, but can someone confirm if chicks (possibly roo's) shed linings, or might this be the start of cocci?
Thanks.

 

[chickenfan]

I think it takes at least 2-3 weeks before they can get cocci. The Chicken Vet has quite a good website.

 

[chrismahon]

We noticed red bits in our chick poos at 3-4 weeks BB. On closer examination it appeared to be shed intestinal lining. They are all fine now so that must have been what it was. I would expect coccidiosis to show initially as darkening of the poos, before they actually get bloody. Ours had unmedicated crumb (all they sell here) but were given Avipro Avian probiotic initially.

 

[chickenfan]

Interesting Chris - you are always a mine of information! I've never used medicated crumb (bad for the environment) and haven't found cocci to be an issue so long as they are kept clean and dry and have apple cider vinegar from time to time. Must try the probiotic.

 

[BabyBantam]

Chicks are still fine and no more signs of red. They are 3 weeks old on Tuesday and have been out on grass since day 2. Not had probiotic or cider vinegar. Think I got 3 Roos and one girl and this might be a cause of worry too as the little 'girl' not as active as the other three and this started me worrying that she might be lethargic.

 

[valeriebutterley]

Hello BB
Are the babies Pekins? - I'm assuming they are, any day now you should be able to tell whether they are roos as the crest will be larger and deeper colour, it is another of the things so endearing about Pekins, the ease of sexing them.
Having said that, being an old hand at hatching and early sexing, I was fooled only two days ago, when my beautiful longed for black girl from my blues, started crowing her darling little head off!
"She" is tiny, dainty, and totally beautiful, being just deepest black, and also now brilliant red, was hoping for an egg, but got a crow!!!!

 

[BabyBantam]

Oh dear, it's always the ones you love the most that cause the most trouble yes, they are all Pekins.
I posted these in the photo section but will post here too. The grey one has acted like a boy since birth and the little blonde one on the right a girl, but as this is the first time I've ever hatched, I have no idea what they are. They are 18 days old

 

[BabyBantam]

Chicks now four weeks old and three are sizing each other up, butting chests and hang in' with the homies, so presume boys.
This one I'm not so sure about. Seems quiet, never really mixed with the others and is possibly a girl?
Best guess anyone, or do I need a full length shot?

 

[dinosaw]

No real comb or wattles, most probably a girl, the boys are normally getting nice small red wattles starting to develop and the comb is noticeable by now and yes they are very boisterous too.

 

[valeriebutterley]

Hello BB,
did not keep up with your post, but would say 3 pullets one roo, which I'm sure you will know by now.
I have had from bought in eggs, one pure white boy, and one beautiful silver partridge girl, both pure colours. Lovely chicks.
My own motley crew have produced this year from various girls and a Lemon cuckoo dad, pure black, black mottled, very dark blue, and lemon/buff plus a couple of very interesting hybrids from last years girls from the water park in Godalming.
Hope yours are well and thriving.

 

[BabyBantam]

3 boys and a girl it is - 2 mottled / speckled boys and the third turning into a lovely clear Blue / Lavender boy (the one on the left with the large comb). He's hand tame, always looking out for the girl and mum and really friendly.
Need to find a home for (at least him) because he's an angel. Any ideas how I'd start?

 

[dinosaw]

It's quite difficult to get rid of boys, if you are prepared to grow him on to about 20 or so weeks there is a tiny chance that if you contacted local pekin breeders one may take fancy to him if they wanted some new blood, beyond that it is a case of placing adverts on omlet, preloved etc. I don't know what your setup is BB but have you considered keeping him?, I kept mature crowing boys for 2 years in an urban area with no complaints, it takes a bit of extra effort picking them up every night and putting them somewhere nice and dark where you can muffle the crowing and then returning them to their girls every morning but I found it well worth it. In any case don't panic, you will have 2-3 months before he starts making a noticeable noise, by which time the sun will be coming up later anyway and he will be less likely to be waking anyone up.

 

[BabyBantam]

I live in a small group of 8 houses and some neighbours say there is a covenant against keeping chickens in their deeds. I never found anything in mine and everyone is happy with my girls as they know they are pets and I make sure I keep them spotless and vermin at bay etc. I'm not sure how they would feel to a roo as its pretty quiet round here, so would rather not break the peace if I don't need to. I don't have the space to keep 3 boys as they are already squabbling so need to lose 2 at least and then maybe the winter nights may save my fav boy at least until the spring.
Tried hard not to name them, but after saving the lavender twice from death by choking when he got caught up in mums feathers in first week of life, couldn't help falling in love

 

[chrismahon]

Its tough BB as we have just culled our three lovely leghorn bantam cockerels. But they had a good life, short though it was. When I see the life birds bred at breeders (for money) have I realise how good a life they really had. One was called 'Pecky and I have the scars to justify the name.