White Diarrhoea in Poultry: Causes, Treatment and Prevention

White diarrhoea is one of the most alarming signs a poultry farmer sees — and one of the most misunderstood. White droppings are not a disease by themselves; they are a symptom, and the cause ranges from the dangerous (pullorum disease) to the everyday (a gut upset or a feed change). This guide walks you through the causes, what to look for, and what to do.

1. The most common causes of white diarrhoea

• Pullorum disease (bacillary white diarrhoea) — an infection caused by bacteria called Salmonella pullorum that mostly hits young chicks and is the classic cause of white, pasty droppings.
• Coccidiosis — a gut parasite (a tiny bug that lives in the intestines) that can cause white or watery droppings, sometimes mixed with blood.
• Internal worms — heavy worm burdens irritate the gut and change the droppings.
• Kidney output — birds pass extra urates (the white part of normal droppings) when they are not eating or drinking properly, or when the kidneys are under strain.
• Feed or water changes — a sudden switch in feed can upset the gut for a few days.

2. Pullorum disease: the one to rule out first

Pullorum is the most serious cause. It spreads from an infected hen to her chicks through the egg, and also from bird to bird through dirty litter (the bedding on the floor), feed and equipment. Infected chicks show white, pasty droppings that stick to the vent (the bird's bottom), huddle under the heat source, and often die in the first two to three weeks. Birds that survive keep carrying the germ and pass it out in their droppings.

Because pullorum passes through the egg, the real answer is prevention: buy day-old chicks only from hatcheries that are certified pullorum-free.

3. Symptoms to watch for

• White, pasty or chalky droppings
• Droppings stuck around the vent ("pasting")
• Ruffled feathers, huddling and weakness in chicks
• Loss of appetite and poor growth
• Many chicks dying in the first few weeks

If you see these in young chicks, act fast — pullorum moves quickly through a brooder.

4. Treatment

Treatment depends on the cause, so confirm with a vet or poultry specialist before dosing:

• Coccidiosis — a coccidiostat (a medicine that kills the coccidiosis parasite), given at the correct dose and for the full course.
• Bacterial infection (including pullorum) — a vet-prescribed antibiotic; never guess doses.
• Worms — a suitable dewormer, with the correct withdrawal period (the waiting time before the birds are safe to sell).

For pullorum, treat infected birds but accept that prevention, not treatment, is the real control — birds that carry the germ in the flock will keep the cycle going.

5. Prevention is the better medicine

• Buy chicks from a reputable, pullorum-free hatchery.
• Keep the brooder (the warm pen where you raise chicks) clean, dry and well ventilated.
• Provide clean water and feed in clean feeders.
• Keep any new birds separate for a while (quarantine) before adding them to the flock.
• Don't mix ages — older birds that carry disease infect younger, weaker birds.

For a broader look at spotting trouble early, see our guide to the symptoms of a sick chicken, and if droppings are green rather than white, check green poop in chickens.