Pooping black roofing tar

[wildergamebirds]

  Reeves, I remembered reading your comments about black gooey poop.  Couldn't remember if it was good, or bad.  Did a SEARCH (which can be done by anyone, as I just prooved), i reread it.  I know the answer, but are you sure it's OK?  This looks suspiciously like something caused by internal bleeding.  It doesn't look like anything near 1 out of 7, I wouldn't have noticed them at all, if it weren't for some of them getting up on the shelter roof.

  I'm probably worrying for nothing, but haven't had a crisis for a few weeks.  You know what it's like when a tooth stops hurting.  It feels pretty good, but you expect it to flare up any time lol.

[Reeves]

Can you take a real close picture, with good light ?

Does it look like all are like that ?

What have they been eating ? Anything new ?

I put my Valley Quail into an 8'x14' building last winter. When they got back on grass they were defecating mostly dark (but not blackish or gooey).

If it was blood, you would likely have dead ones by now. Do they look/act healthy ?

[Reeves]

One more thing. If you are concerned, collect samples & take to a vet .

[wildergamebirds]

  Had internet trouble, yesterday, then messed up trying to attach too many pictures (too much size, total), then gave up.  This evening, I got distracted with that hopeless education project. 

  All my birds are still alive, and look healthy.  No droopy feathers, or wings, heads up and chattering.  I emptied their water, and refilled, adding Terramycin, as soon as I saw the black droppings.  I don't know if it did any good, but like chicken soup, couldn't do any harm.  I figure three days should be enough.

  Yesterday, the droppings were actually very dark green, and only slightly softer than normal, whereas the first day, they were very soft, gooey looking, and as black, and nearly as shiny as roofing, or road tar.

  The total number of these droppings in 48 hours was much less than one for each of the 400 quail in that pen.  They do have plenty of grass to eat, but have been in there all spring. 

  The last food change was to higher protein two weeks ago.  Perhaps some of them just got a craving for grass.  There are two weeds that have recently matured, and had their seeds eaten.  I think it is a type of ragweed.  I am posting (trying) a picture of identical weeds from an unoccupied section of the pen.



 

[wildergamebirds]

  The shiny object is a dime for size comparison.

[wildergamebirds]

  The shiny object is a dime for size comparison.

[wildergamebirds]

  This is the type of weed seed head they stripped clean.

[Reeves]

I would say that all is well.
But like I said, to be sure or for your peace of mind, take a sample to a vet & have them test it.