Diarrhea

[THEMAN]

This is my first time breeding so please excuse my ignorance if this is a common fact.  However, I have 6 hutches with breeding pairs.  All have babies and soon after they hatched I started to notice loose droppings.  It has progressively gotten worse.  4 of the pairs have some pretty watery droppings.  They are all in individual hutches and do not share waters or feed. I figure that perhaps they increase their intake of water in order to feed the young and this in turn would cause the loose stools but they're pretty wet.  So, I have a few questions. Is this normal?   If not can I medicate while they are feeding the young and if so with what?  Also, I have read that wood pellets help with moisture.  I am thinking of putting some in the dropping trays to absorb some of the moisture but not sure what type of wood pellets to use, wood burning pellets?(again, please excuse the ignorance)  Any advice will be quite appreciated.  Thanks.

 

Tony

[Guest shadow]

It  :)sounds as if the parents are pumpimg them with water are they getting enough food try adding beans to the feed this should help

[square_peg]

what you feeding your doo's on

[stephen steyert]

i have found that if you take the minerals & grit away from the parents until the ybs are about 14 days old there will be no watery dropping minerals and grit are high in natural salt and birds will drink more  , more water in the old birds more the ybs will get/

 

to firm up the dropping try adding more maple peas or tic beans to there diet

[THE FIFER]

YES IF BIRDS ARE NOT HOUSED TOGETHER IT LOOKS TO ME AS IF IT COULD BE THE FEEDING.  WHAT AGE ARE THE YOUNGSTERS, DOES THE FOOD IN THEIR STOMACH FEEL WATERY, BIRDS DO SOMTIMES GIVE A LOT OF WATER WHEN FEEDING, BUT IF ALL UR BIRDS ARE THE SAME LOOKS LIKE UR FEEDING. LETS KNOW WHAT UR FEEDING

[Diamond dave]

Stephen Steyert

Sorry mate, I disagree. You are probably correct in the reason the birds have got diarrohea but I wouldnt deny my birds the minerals.

The reason they may be drinking so much is because they are overdosing on the minerals - possibly because they are not in front of them at all times - when you do give them, they go mad for them.

Indeed, I do believe that black minerals will help dry up the diarrohea.

 

Tony,

I would suggest that you ensure that mineral trays are never empty and once the birds have caught up with their requirements, I would expect them to ration thereselves.

 

Just my own opinion lads - good luck!!!!

[snowy]

hope there is more on this topic(mineral) as our birds also go mad for it when i change it everyday, its gone in minites

[stephen steyert]

diamond dave

 

hi mate

          sorry about how i worded my last post i should have said i take all mineral and grit  away from the loft the likes of mineral blocks/powder/grit i do however give the birds water soluable minerals and vitamins .

 

as this does not engourage the birds to drink more but they do still get the required intake.

 

sorry that i did not make my 1st post a little more clearer

[Guest slugmonkey]

I keep grit down all the time used to give it like food a certain amount on occasion now I leave it down all the time and have found yb's take to them a lot better I would say to give more peas in fact I always keep peas avaible as soon as babies hatch

[Diamond dave]

Stephen,

No worries mate - we all do it differently.

I still think that the dry minerals, (black minerals-charcoal,phospates etc) and (pink minerals - lime iron etc) are essential to breeding.  Youve only got to put them in front of the birds to know how important they are.

However, the use of peas and beans also makes a lot of sense and will go some way to drying up the droppings in the babies, but I believe the crux of Tonys problem is in the parents - or have i misinterpreted the thread?

[stephen steyert]

it will be interesting to find out  what tony has done to try and overcome the problem

[square_peg]

STILL WAITING ON A FEEDING SCHEDULE 'MAN'

[MsPigeon]

I'm a bit confused... It's the parents that have the diarrhea isn't it?

[THEMAN]

Sorry for the late info but here it is.  I feed them 2-parts 16% 1-part Safflower and 1-part pigeon pellet, with a handfull of minced garlic.  Its the parents that have the diarrhea not the babies(about 19days in age +/-).  The grit is a gray oyster shell and regular grit at a ratio of 1 to 1 with red grit.  The grit is ALWAYS available. and checked twice daily as one bird always wants the ONE piece of grit at the bottom of the cup and sifts and knocks grit out till he gets it.(wish I knew which piece it was so that I could put it on top for him. lol).  Thanks.

 

Tony

[jimmy white]

TRY FEEDING  TIC BEANS ONLY AND GIVE THEM GRIT , PICKSTONES AND BLACK MINERALS,,,,GARLIC IN THEIR WATER,PLENTY

[Guest]

garlic bulb in the drinker 24/7

[NANCYVIEWLOFTS]

do you have your old birds out when you are rearing if so they could be picking at something that is in the ground or on the roof  one hand full of mixture per pair per day and a pot of beans or maple peas in front of them all the time make sure minerals are in front of them all the time or else they go mad for them when you give it to them keep them in while rearing remember the rearing season is for rearng not exercising

orego stim in the water keeps the gut clear its a natural product for drier droppings in both young and old birds

[THEMAN]

Well, its definitely the water!  I in the breeding section last night setting up another drinking cup for a new pair of breeders when I heard water shaking about.  Sort of like shaking a juice bottle.  I looked over into one of the idividuals and the cock was feeding the young.  The sound was all the water in his gizzard!  Amazing!  Glad to know it was just that and that they aren't sick.  I am however putting some electrolytes into their water to help balance them since they have had the diarrhea.  The babies look really good though.  Thanks again for all the advice.  

 

Tony

[Guest slugmonkey]

Noticed you giving pellets and feed most pellets say to not give with food or grit as it isnt needed and certainly wouldnt add sunflower to that,  I try to keep peas in full time as its protien thats needed now that babies are developing I keep food in one bowl and peas in another if you feed it once a day put this in and see what parents go for first

[Guest shadow]

Well, its definitely the water!  I in the breeding section last night setting up another drinking cup for a new pair of breeders when I heard water shaking about.  Sort of like shaking a juice bottle.  I looked over into one of the idividuals and the cock was feeding the young.  The sound was all the water in his gizzard!  Amazing!  Glad to know it was just that and that they aren't sick.  I am however putting some electrolytes into their water to help balance them since they have had the diarrhea.  The babies look really good though.  Thanks again for all the advice.  

 

Tony

some old birds are lazy feeders and will feed water rather than food if you have one pigeon that does it all the time do not let it rear young ones as the young will not thrive as they should

 

 

[THE FIFER]

OUT OF ALL GRAINS TIC BEANS HAVE MORE WATER ABOUT 14.5%

PUT A TABLE SPOONFUL OF HOUSEHOLD VINEGAR IN UR WATER DAILY,

[MsPigeon]

some old birds are lazy feeders and will feed water rather than food if you have one pigeon that does it all the time do not let it rear young ones as the young will not thrive as they should

 

 

Maybe thats when it's a good idea to put the baby formula in the water.

[Guest]

I had a hen that was pumping water, and had the baby milk in and the YBs droppings were still perfect, she only did it for a day or two, with no obvious reason. This years babies are the best Ive ever raised, and I put it down to the baby milk, and Im gutted that Im giving them all away.

[MsPigeon]

guess I missed something sbelbin, why are you giving them all away? Oh ya, are you the one with neighbor problems?

Sorry, Carol

[Guest]

Sorry MsPigeon, only just noticed your reply. Im giving them all away as Ive only a small YB loft and dont want anymore than 20 YBs, and my mate is breeding me a round out of his stock loft. Couldnt resist but keep four of my own back for myself and all the rest went the weekend. No neighbour problems here (just women problems LOL).