sticky droppings, feed related

I thought I would start a new thread here. I was taking over another and thought a new one would be better.

This is a very interesting article on sticky droppings that includes pictures. I always find pictures helpful.

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I jut ran into this myself. My cochins are prone to poopy bum and i have lost too many in the first week due to plugging of the rear. My other breeds do not have this problem and they share the same brooder. I changed starter feed by coincidence, because for the few bags i needed i just picked it up locally for a couple dollars more per bag, but it saved me from driving 45 minutes. Since the are getting the other brand i have yet to see a cochin with poopy bum, whereas before i had to check/help them daily.

That is really interesting Piet. I wish they would list ingredients here. In Australia there was always a list of the actual ingredients in the feed, not just the nutrient levels. It frustrates me with horse feed as we have 2 horses that do not tolerate oats, and now with poultry feeds, they may be using barley to make up for lack of other grains. Something to think about for sure!

How interesting, thanks for doing the research for the paper, Coopslave. That condition with that poopy bum, I am guessing in this particular case, is what I call pastey butt. This often will only happen during the first few days of life, after hatch, and after about 4 days, there is no worry about that. I raise cochins and buff orpingtons currently. With all honesty, I have never once had a cochin with a messy vent, the orpington yes. And this is even more interesting, there is usually only about 2 in say, 40 what have this condition. I always, always check every day for about a week after hatch to ensure there is no pasty butt. After that time, have never seen it in older chicks. I still attribute it to the egg yolk which has been absorbed and then excreted, but that could be wrong. All the chicks get the same MEDicated feed and only a very, very few get pasty butt (sticky poo). What gives, why only one or two, perhaps three, but never any more than that? Never lost a chick to this sticky poo, cause I check daily, that is part of what I do every day when I raise the youngsters. As I said, I don't even bother to look past the 5 day old day mark. It just has never been an issue past this age. Why no cochins? I don't know, raise lots of them. Why only the buff orpington breed? I don't know, I raise lots of them. All on the same food. Have an awesome day, CynthiaM.

If you want to know the ingredients, ask at the feed store, They have a binder with all the ingredients of all their feeds listed.

CynthiaM, the sticky droppings from feed I think is different than the pasty butt you get in chicks I think. Sticky droppings shows in adult birds too and I think are something to be aware of.
I just thought that Piet's personal experience sounds like his chicks were getting pasty butt from feed, but I think there are a few reasons they can get them.

Schipperkesue wrote:If you want to know the ingredients, ask at the feed store, They have a binder with all the ingredients of all their feeds listed.

Thanks Sue, I have asked before and some things they seem to know the ingredients of and others don't seem so sure. I think when it is on the bag the company is much more accountable, if it is in a binder and has words like 'could include' you just don't really know. Just one of my pet peeves I suppose.

I was told by the feed store that they don't list ingredients because it depends on what is available and how much it costs at the time, so the ingredients could be different every time, but the nutrient values remain the same. They are listed.

Hmm, I don't think my hens have sticky droppings. Maybe soaking the barley over night does help?

i noticed this in some chicks, especially hatchery ones that had been shipped but started adding a sprinkle of cornmeal to the chick starter and it seemed to work wonders.
The extra fibre?

SucellusFarms wrote:I was told by the feed store that they don't list ingredients because it depends on what is available and how much it costs at the time, so the ingredients could be different every time, but the nutrient values remain the same. They are listed.

That is what I was told too and I don't like it. I like to know what is in the feed I get, not just what is the cheapest at the moment. Just me though....

I've had lots of problems this year with pasty chick bums. Way more than usual, but they are not chilled or stressed in any way. After seeing this thread I'm thinking it must be feed related. I'm switching chick starter back to my old brand. I'm hoping that will help.

coopslave wrote:
That is what I was told too and I don't like it. I like to know what is in the feed I get, not just what is the cheapest at the moment. Just me though....

Agreed, but what can we do?

So what brands are we talking about here? How long is feed good for? Could it be expired product?