Green Chicken Poop: Causes & Treatments

The sight of green chicken poop can be alarming. While the color can be off-putting, green chicken poop is not always a cause for concern. Today, you are going to learn about healthy chicken poop, what causes green chicken poop, and how to treat it. When this fecal phenomenon happens, you want to ensure that you have a plan in place, since care can be integral to keep your flock happy and healthy. Let’s get started.

What Does Healthy Chicken Poop Look Like?

Healthy chicken poop serves as a valuable indicator of your flock’s well-being. Generally, it should exhibit a brown color and a firm consistency. The presence of a white cap, often called urates, atop the brown portion is considered normal. This white cap indicates the expulsion of metabolic byproducts and is a positive sign.

Unhealthy chicken poop is the exact opposite of normal and may contain any of the following issues:

• Red or black streaks, which happens during internal bleeding.
• Green, yellow, or gray coloring.
• Runny consistency, indicating bacterial infections or coccidiosis.
• Extremely dry consistency, pointing to dehydration.
• Changes in odor. Foul smells are indicative of disease or infection.
• The presence of mucus.
• Undigested food.
• Visible pus or blood.
• Too frequent or infrequent defecation.

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Is Green Chicken Poop Unhealthy?

Sometimes, your chicken’s poop may appear green if it has eaten something green, such as grass clippings or a lot of green vegetables. Typically, a healthy green poop will contain the white urates cap. Everything about the poo will be normal, minus the color. However, if you notice that the poop is persistently green, watery, or otherwise inconsistent with what is normal in your flock, you may have a problem. It can be a sign of various issues, including infections, dietary imbalances, stress, or diseases affecting the digestive tract.

What Causes Green Chicken Poop?

As mentioned previously, there are several causes of green chicken poop. Let’s look at those causes now:

1. Feeding on Lots of Grass and Vegetables

Chickens are omnivores with a penchant for various foods, including fruits, vegetables, and leafy greens. If your chickens consume an abundance of green vegetables or leaves, the chlorophyll content in these foods can lead to greenish poop. While incorporating fresh fruits and vegetables is beneficial for their health, moderation is key. Excessive consumption of greens can result in diarrhea or other digestive problems.

In most cases, this kind of green poop is harmless and doesn’t require specific treatment. However, if green poop persists and is accompanied by other concerning symptoms like lethargy or diarrhea, consulting a veterinarian is advisable.

2. Starvation or Loss of Appetite

A lack of food may be the cause of your chicken’s green poop. When chickens do not get enough nutrients, their digestive goes into starvation mode — just like a person. When this happens, the food that your chicken does eat will spend a longer period of time in the digestive tract.

Commonly, chickens may lose their appetite or starve due to illness, stress, or a change in diet. If you believe that stress or illness is the cause, consider diagnosing and treating the problem first. Monitor your flock and the health of your chicken. Ensure that they are getting a nutritious diet, have a clean and safe home, and that there are no predators stressing them out.

3. Marek’s Disease

Marek’s disease is caused by the Marek’s disease virus (MDV), a herpesvirus specific to chickens. The virus primarily targets the chicken’s immune system, nervous system, and skin cells. Chickens usually become infected through inhalation of virus-laden dust or dander shed by infected birds. The virus can also spread horizontally through feather follicle dander and vertically from an infected hen to its chicks.

Symptoms of Marek’s Disease

Marek’s disease symptoms can vary, and not all infected birds may exhibit clinical signs. Common symptoms include:

• Paralysis: Marek’s disease often leads to paralysis, especially of the wings and legs.
• Weight Loss: Infected birds may experience rapid weight loss.
• Tumors: Tumors may develop in various organs, affecting internal functions.
• Respiratory Distress: Chickens may show respiratory signs, including labored breathing.
• Changes in Iris Color: The iris of the eye may change color, typically becoming gray or light-colored.
• Green Poop: As mentioned, Marek’s disease may cause your chicken’s poop to take on a bright green tinge.

4. Newcastle Disease

Newcastle disease is caused by the Newcastle disease virus (NDV), a member of the Paramyxoviridae family. Chickens typically contract Newcastle disease through direct contact with bodily discharges from infected birds, such as respiratory droplets or feces. The virus can also spread indirectly through contaminated feed, water, equipment, and clothing. Wild birds, especially waterfowl, can carry and transmit the virus, contributing to the disease’s spread.

Symptoms of Newcastle Disease

Aside from greenish colored poop, here are some symptoms of Newcastle disease that may range from mild to severe:

• Respiratory Signs: Sneezing, coughing, and nasal discharge are common respiratory symptoms.
• Digestive Issues: Diarrhea and greenish feces may occur.
• Nervous System Disorders: Severe cases can lead to neurological symptoms such as tremors, paralysis, and twisting of the neck.
• Drop in Egg Production: Laying hens may experience a sudden drop in egg production or lay eggs with thin or misshapen shells.
• Depression and Weakness: Infected birds may appear lethargic and weak.

5. Fowl Cholera

Caused by the bacterium Pasteurella multocida, fowl cholera poses a significant threat to chickens. The disease can be spread a number of ways, including airborne transmission and interaction with infected chickens. Fowl cholera also thrives in contaminated environments, meaning the bedding, coop surfaces, and other shared spaces with sick chickens.

In the event the bacterium is present in the environment, a chicken with a wound or scratch may become infected. Once the bacteria has entered the bloodstream, your chicken will quickly develop a systemic infection.

Symptoms of Fowl Cholera

Recognizing the symptoms of Fowl Cholera is crucial for timely intervention and preventing the disease’s spread:

• Greenish Diarrhea: Green poop is a notable symptom of Fowl Cholera, signaling digestive distress in affected birds.
• Lethargy: Infected chickens often exhibit lethargy and a lack of energy, avoiding normal activities.
• Difficulty Breathing: Respiratory symptoms, including difficulty breathing, may manifest, reflecting the impact of the bacterium on the respiratory system.
• Swollen Joints: Fowl Cholera can cause joint swelling, leading to lameness and discomfort in infected birds.
• Sudden Death: In severe cases, Fowl Cholera can result in sudden and unexplained deaths within the flock.

How to Treat Green Chicken Poop

Sometimes, treating the chickens with green poop is as simple as changing their diet. You may want to consider reducing the number of green vegetables and fruits to see if it has an impact on their poop. It is highly recommended that you look at the poop and compare it to what is normal. If there is no urates or if the green poop is runny, you may be able to rule out a dietary issue right away.

To get the swiftest diagnosis, it is recommended that you visit a veterinarian. They will be able to tell you if your chicken’s green poop is problematic and may also be able to go you a treatment plan. Unfortunately, if you chicken is diagnosed with either Marek’s disease or Newcastle disease, you will not have a treatment option. There is no cure for either disease. Chickens often die from these conditions. Some survive. You must separate the infected chickens from the rest of the flock and work on increasing biosecurity within the coop and around the yard.

Fowl cholera has a better outlook at Marek’s or Newcastle disease. If Fowl Cholera is suspected, isolate infected birds immediately and consult with a veterinarian. Treatment involves antibiotics, such as enrofloxacin, fosfomycin, or sulfaquinoxaline, but identifying and isolating infected birds is crucial to prevent the disease’s spread. Again, you will need to visit a veterinarian to receive the proper medication. Also, keep the coop clean, disinfect, and vaccinate your birds against fowl cholera.

When Your Chicken Is Not Eating Enough

Hopefully, your chicken’s green poop dilemma is caused by something simple, like your chicken not eating enough. While the reasons for this are many, you can begin helping your chicken recover by separating the bird from the rest of the flock. There is a very high chance that the chicken, weakened by lack of calories, is being bullied by those higher in the pecking order.

Separate the chicken from the others and monitor its behavior. You want to see how much it eats, if that amount is appropriate for its size, and how much water the bird consumes within a 24-hour period. You may also want to see if your chicken has any signs of bullying, such as injuries or missing feathers.

Give your chicken a chance to get as much food as it wants for a period of time. Once your chicken has eaten, put on some weight, and is feeling better, the color of your feathered friend’s poop should also change. During this quarantine period, any worsening symptoms (or the development of new ones) should be considered a red flag. Get your chicken care as soon as you can.

How to Prevent Green Chicken Poop

Often, preventing something from occurring, such as green poop from a disease, is more easy than treating it over and over. To help you keep your flock healthy and pooping normally, here are some tips you can implement today:

1. Monitor Diet and Well-Being

Regularly check what your chickens eat and ensure a well-balanced diet. Monitor the overall well-being of your flock to identify signs of stress, illness, or changes in behavior. For sudden, strong, or persistent diarrhea, consult a poultry veterinarian. Popular medications like Sulfamerazine and Enrofloxacin can be used under veterinary guidance.

2. Clean The Coop Well

You want to ensure that the coop is clean and free of disease. Do this by thoroughly cleaning out the coop and changing the bedding. You also want to disinfect the coop, including the nesting boxes and perches, especially if there has been an outbreak of disease.

3. Vaccinate Your Flock

Vaccinate your poultry against viral diseases after coop disinfection. Implement vaccination every few months to prevent diseases like Newcastle, which lack effective treatment.

4. Use Apple Cider Vinegar

Add apple cider vinegar to your flock’s drinking water at least twice a week. Use a well-diluted solution (14 ml in 4 liters of water) to avoid irritation and stomach upset. Apple cider vinegar aids in immune system strengthening and addresses bacterial infections causing green chicken poop.

5. Consistent Worming

Although worms do not usually cause green chicken poop, it is smart to keep parasites from your chickens, nonetheless. Doing so will also reduce the spread of other diseases and illnesses. Use remedies like Ivermectin for worm infections. You should also provide organic options like pawpaw seeds, chili peppers, garlic, mustard greens, or carrots for natural worm relief. Schedule regular deworming based on the veterinarian’s advice.

Final Thoughts on Green Chicken Poop

Green chicken poop can be alarming but doesn’t always signal a severe issue. Understanding the causes, whether from diet, stress, or diseases like Marek’s, Newcastle, or Fowl Cholera, is crucial. Treatment varies, with dietary adjustments, veterinary guidance, and preventive measures being key. Remember that regular monitoring, vaccination, and maintaining a clean coop contribute to a healthier, happier flock.