Chicken manure is a “barometer” of flock health. By examining its color, shape, and texture, farmers can quickly identify potential diseases and implement targeted prevention and control measures. This guide, based on veterinary research and practical experience, breaks down the health signals in chicken manure and offers science-backed diagnostic and management solutions.
Characteristics of Normal Chicken Manure
Healthy chicken manure shows a flock’s good physical condition. Here’s how normal manure should look:
- Shape: Regular cylindrical, 1-2 cm in diameter, formed but not overly complicated.
- Texture: Slightly dry exterior, containing feed particles, with a white urate coating.
- Color: Grayish-brown base with a white “frost” (urate crystals).
- Composition: About 65% water, 25% feed residue, 10% microbes and their metabolites.
- Odor: No strong, pungent smell, slightly fermented.
Tip: Normal manure pH is typically 6.5-7.5, showing healthy digestion and metabolism.
Five-Color Warning System: Health Signals Behind Manure Colors
Changes in manure color often signal early disease. Below are five abnormal colors, their causes, diagnoses, and management plans:
Green Manure: Liver and Gallbladder Issues
Pathological Mechanisms:
- Bilirubin Metabolism Issues: Viral hepatitis (e.g., Newcastle disease) or liver cell damage causes biliverdin reflux.
- Intestinal Infections: Infections with Salmonella or Trichomonas disrupt the enterohepatic cycle, leading to increased β-glucuronidase activity.
Clinical Types:
| Type | Color Features | Typical Disease | Diagnostic Indicators |
| Vaccine Stress | Light green streaks | Newcastle disease vaccine stress | HI antibody titer ≥4log2 |
| Viral Precursor | Yellow-green, formed | Early low-pathogenic avian influenza | H5/H7 antigen rapid test positive |
| Septicemia | Dark green, watery | Acute Pasteurella infection | Blood culture positive rate >90% |
| Parasitic | Inky green, mucoid | Trichomonas infection | Cecal content microscopy detects parasites |
Management Plan:
- Liver Support: Add 0.1% glucuronolactone to feed to promote liver cell repair.
- Supportive Therapy: Add 0.02% vitamin B complex to drinking water to boost metabolism.
- Isolation and Testing: Isolate sick birds and collect manure samples for pathogen testing (e.g., PCR or microscopy).
Case Study: A farm found 30% of its flock producing green manure, confirmed as Newcastle disease vaccine stress. After adjusting feed and adding vitamin B, manure normalized within 3 days.
White Manure: Urinary and Reproductive System Crisis
Danger Signals:
- Lime-Water Like: Uric acid deposits, indicating gout (blood uric acid >890 μmol/L).
- Egg-White Like Mucus: Oviduct inflammation is typical in laying hens (manure pH >8.5).
- Snowflake-Like Crystals: Renal infectious bronchitis, with kidneys enlarged 2-3 times.
Management Plan:
- Reduce Protein: Adjust feed protein to 16-18% to ease kidney burden.
- Acidify Urine: Add 0.5% citric acid to drinking water to reduce uric acid deposits.
- Anti-Infection: Use a quinolone-like enrofloxacin (10 mg/kg) for 5 days.
Note: Regularly monitor the drinking water pH (keep it at 5.5-6.5) to prevent over-acidification.
Red Manure: Digestive Tract Bleeding
Bleeding Localization:
Manure FeatureBleeding SiteTypical Disease
Coffee-Ground-Like Glandular stomach Mycotoxin poisoning
Tomato-Juice Like Jejunum Necrotic Enteritis
Fresh Red Streaks Rectum Proventricular fluke
Urgent Action:
- Stop Bleeding: Give vitamin K3 (0.5 mg/kg) to help blood clot.
- Anti-Infection: Use ampicillin (20 mg/kg, oral or injection) to control secondary infections.
- Environmental Check: Test feed for mycotoxins (e.g., aflatoxin <20 ppb).
Case Study: A farm discovered fresh red blood in manure, which was diagnosed as caused by proventricular fluke. Treatment with praziquantel (10 mg/kg) for 3 days cleared the blood of parasites.
Yellow Manure: Metabolic or Intestinal Disorder
Abnormal Types:
- Dark Yellow, Pasty: High-fever diseases (e.g., avian influenza, body temperature >43°C).
- Pale Yellow, Foamy: Bacterial enteritis (e.g., E. coli, manure colonies >10^6 CFU/g).
Management Plan:
- Toxin Absorption: Add 2% montmorillonite to feed to reduce intestinal toxin load.
- Microbiome Regulation: Add probiotics (e.g., Lactobacillus, 10^9 CFU/g) to restore gut flora.
- Cooling: Improve ventilation and maintain a coop temperature of 24-26°C.
Black Manure: Poisoning or Severe Infection
Danger Signals:
- Tar-Like: Gizzard erosion, often due to heavy metal contamination in feed (gizzard lining ulcers larger than 2 mm).
- Rust-Colored and Watery: Newcastle disease or intestinal lymphoid follicle swelling.
Detoxification Plan:
- Stop Suspect Feed: Test feed for heavy metals (e.g., lead, cadmium).
- Neutralize Toxins: Add 0.1% sodium bicarbonate to drinking water to relieve gastrointestinal acidosis.
- Supportive Therapy: Use yolk antibodies (2 ml/kg) to boost immunity.
Smart Disease Prevention System: From “Treating Illness” to “Preventing Illness”
Modern Testing Technologies
- Rapid Diagnostic Cards: Detect Salmonella, avian influenza, and six other pathogens in 15 minutes.
- Infrared Spectrometer: Analyze manure composition, build health databases, and monitor abnormal trends.
- AI Monitoring: Cameras spot manure color and shape issues in real-time with 95% accuracy.
Triple Protection Mechanism:
| Protection Level | Specific Measures |
| Biosecurity | Coop ozone disinfection (30 mg/m³, weekly) |
| Nutritional Regulation | Add 0.1% β-glucan to boost immunity |
| Precision Medication | Conduct regular drug sensitivity tests to select effective antibiotics |
Precision Medication Plans
| Disease Type | Primary Drug | Alternative | Duration |
| Bacterial | Florfenicol (30 mg/kg) | Doxycycline (20 mg/kg) | 5-7 days |
| Viral | Yolk antibodies (2 ml/kg) | Interferon (10^5 IU/kg) | 3-5 days |
| Parasitic | Toltrazuril (7 mg/kg) | Diclazuril (1 mg/kg) | 3 days |
Nutritional Regulation Strategies
- Fiber Optimization: Add 2% microcrystalline cellulose to improve manure formation and reduce gut viscosity.
- Enzyme Supplements: Use 500 U/g xylanase to reduce feed residue and improve nutrient absorption.
- Probiotics: Add 10^9 CFU/g Bacillus subtilis to maintain gut flora balance.
Farming Wisdom: Five Things to Check
Check these five things to gauge flock health:
- Color: Spots systemic issues (e.g., green suggests liver-gallbladder problems).
- Shape: Checks digestive function (watery suggests enteritis).
- Odor: Gauges microbiome balance (foul odor suggests infection).
- pH: Assesses metabolic state (pH >8 suggests kidney issues).
- Composition: Evaluate feed absorption efficiency (excess residue suggests poor digestion).
Practical Tips
- Regular Checks: Collect 10 manure samples weekly to test for pathogens and nutritional markers.
- Environmental Management: Keep coop humidity at 40-60% to avoid abnormal manure moisture.
- Record Analysis: Keep a manure observation log to track color and shape trends.
References:
- Poultry Diseases (6th Edition, 2008), Saif et al.
- OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) Poultry Disease Diagnostic Guide, 2023.
- Avian Pathology Journal, 2024 latest research.
With scientific observation and timely action, chicken manure becomes a powerful tool for managing flock health, moving from “treating illness” to “preventing illness”!
