5 of 7 Chicks Have Hard Crops

[CityslickerHomestead]

Yup, we all have opinions ... You need to read & think & make your own decision as to what makes sense. I agree with ButtonquailGirl14 - Offer Chick Grit as they will eat as they need. Leave the food/water in 24/7, chicks grow fast and that's why the constant food/water. When they are older & in a coop, they won't eat at night cause they'll roost and sleep but right now they are chicks and growing. Shavings is good cause it absorbs the wetness front their poop and they love scratching in it, it's all part of being a chicken.

A full crop will feel "hard", a squishy crop could be someone's drinking more water. When you say hard is it like a rock? Are they drinking water? They will eat some shavings (normal) & that's what the grit is for, the grit is their teeth, grinds their food & whatever else they eat.

If they're eating, drinking and pooping, active and making a mess = normal. Check their butts for any caked poop, clean off with warm water & paper towel. If it's excessive, then it possible they're too warm. It's recommended to lower the temp by 5* every week but they/chicks let you know.

I did put a little dust bath mixed with chick grit in their brooder but then that’s when I noticed the hard crops. It could have been coincidence but then when I read other BYC members saying “no grit allowed!!!” I panicked and removed it.
It’s all so confusing. I wonder if I’m overthinking it all. Chickens have been around for a long time and people have been successfully keeping chickens long before the internet. But I do love the internet as a resource. I’d be lost without the BYC community!

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

I did put a little dust bath mixed with chick grit in their brooder but then that’s when I noticed the hard crops. It could have been coincidence but then when I read other BYC members saying “no grit allowed!!!” I panicked and removed it.
It’s all so confusing. I wonder if I’m overthinking it all. Chickens have been around for a long time and people have been successfully keeping chickens long before the internet. But I do love the internet as a resource. I’d be lost without the BYC community!

I have no clue why someone would say no grit allowed, but I'm glad you asked! Thanks for being a understanding byc'er!

 

[rascal66]

I have always only fed chick feed. If that is all they are eating, then grit might not be entirely needed. Probably doesnt hurt, though but I have not had to use it personally. The chick feed is easy alone for them to digest. Let them have access to clean water and food 24/7 and they should be okay. What food are you feeding?

 

[CindyinSD]

Relax... you’re doing fine. Chicks eating nothing but crumble do not, technically need grit. As others have said, they’ll inevitably eat a little bit of wood chips—small ones most likely—and the grit may help with that (or they may not need help). Ideally you’ll buy the coarse *PINE ONLY* shavings, but around here the stores always seem to be out so we’re often stuck with medium (which is okay anyway, and especially once they know their food.) Best not to use fine saw dust, for respiratory and digestive reasons both.

I’ve been giving my babies grit to help their gizzards develop. My big chickens survived and thrived on this treatment. Chicks under care of a mama hen eat regular food—bugs, plants, dirt, crumble... and grit. They love it. If you pour it into a dish they will likely gather around and gobble it up like candy. (Use chick grit, btw.) I’ve started sprinkling it on their food though... less messy. They can still choose to eat it or not. (I ferment their food. Many threads on here about that.)

You can also (if you like) give them some good garden dirt... preferably with a dandelion or two attached to it. After they decide it isn’t dangerous, They’ll peck at it, get good microbes, eat some leaf bits, and eventually abandon it when it withers.

As long as they act energetic, poop all over their brooder (deep litter is wonderful, btw), continue to eat and drink, I don’t worry beyond looking at their little backsides on occasion in case of poop-clogged vents. Make sure they have plenty of good, clean water. Since you’ve got them sleeping in the dark, they likely won’t eat at night, so you can take the food or not—however you find it most convenient to manage. Best of luck with your wee fluffies and have fun!

 

[Keeperofmunchkins]

I think the OP removed the food overnight because that is the advice for possibly impacted crops - to see if their crops are empty in the morning or not.
As for grit, most people will say that it is not necessary when feeding only chick crumbles. However if the chicks have access to shavings they will eat bits and the grit will help them pass it.

Chicks do eat a lot and their crops are often very full and can feel hard. The most important thing to watch for is their poop. If they are pooping normally, and still eating and drinking more, then there isn't usually anything to worry about.

 

[CityslickerHomestead]

I have always only fed chick feed. If that is all they are eating, then grit might not be entirely needed. Probably doesnt hurt, though but I have not had to use it personally. The chick feed is easy alone for them to digest. Let them have access to clean water and food 24/7 and they should be okay. What food are you feeding?

I’m giving them Country Companion Chick Starter that was recommended by the feed store where I got the chicks. The introductory information sheet that came with my chick starter kit said not to give grit if they are solely on chick starter. However on the feed bag of chick starter it said to give them grit, so I overnighted chick grit through amazon prime because none of the feed stores in town sold any. I only took away the grit after other threads on this topic said not to give grit if their crops are full.

Relax... you’re doing fine. Chicks eating nothing but crumble do not, technically need grit. As others have said, they’ll inevitably eat a little bit of wood chips—small ones most likely—and the grit may help with that (or they may not need help). Ideally you’ll buy the coarse *PINE ONLY* shavings, but around here the stores always seem to be out so we’re often stuck with medium (which is okay anyway, and especially once they know their food.) Best not to use fine saw dust, for respiratory and digestive reasons both.

I’ve been giving my babies grit to help their gizzards develop. My big chickens survived and thrived on this treatment. Chicks under care of a mama hen eat regular food—bugs, plants, dirt, crumble... and grit. They love it. If you pour it into a dish they will likely gather around and gobble it up like candy. (Use chick grit, btw.) I’ve started sprinkling it on their food though... less messy. They can still choose to eat it or not. (I ferment their food. Many threads on here about that.)

You can also (if you like) give them some good garden dirt... preferably with a dandelion or two attached to it. After they decide it isn’t dangerous, They’ll peck at it, get good microbes, eat some leaf bits, and eventually abandon it when it withers.

As long as they act energetic, poop all over their brooder (deep litter is wonderful, btw), continue to eat and drink, I don’t worry beyond looking at their little backsides on occasion in case of poop-clogged vents. Make sure they have plenty of good, clean water. Since you’ve got them sleeping in the dark, they likely won’t eat at night, so you can take the food or not—however you find it most convenient to manage. Best of luck with your wee fluffies and have fun!

I clean their water what seems like ten times a day but it’s probably more along the lines of five. They scratch at the pine bedding and kick it into their waterer. I elevated the waterer but that only helps slightly. I hate seeing dirty water, especially when they poop in it.

I think the OP removed the food overnight because that is the advice for possibly impacted crops - to see if their crops are empty in the morning or not.
As for grit, most people will say that it is not necessary when feeding only chick crumbles. However if the chicks have access to shavings they will eat bits and the grit will help them pass it.

Chicks do eat a lot and their crops are often very full and can feel hard. The most important thing to watch for is their poop. If they are pooping normally, and still eating and drinking more, then there isn't usually anything to worry about.

I checked them this morning and every single one of them had a “normal” empty crop. So it turns out I panicked for nothing? And since they were on paper towels instead of their usual pine I saw how much they poop, and it’s everywhere. Again, I think my polish are pooping reddish to orange tinted so I don’t know if I should be concerned. They seem to be struggling the most with development.

I did put their food back in last night since reading the feedback from @ButtonquailGirl14 but they didn’t touch it overnight. Probably because I live just outside of city limits and there is no ambient light anywhere, they couldn’t see it. I got up before sunrise to check on them, and they were all sleeping (and alive! ) and ran for the food and water when I turned on the light.

Moral of the story? I think I just need to take a chill pill.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

I have no clue why someone would say no grit allowed, but I'm glad you asked! Thanks for being a understanding byc'er!

Usually they don’t need grit until they start eating other things besides their chick feed. I just fed mine chick starter for the first few weeks to avoid any problems

 

[rascal66]

I'm unfamiliar with that brand of feed but I think you're doing just fine, and staying ontop of things. Just keep an eye on them, their activity and droppings.

Personally I use Purina chick starter, so I wouldnt know how accurate your bag is by saying you should include grit. I guess it just soley depends on the contents. Usually its a crumble that is easily digestable and gets mushy fairly easy when water added.

But stay calm and keep going

 

[CindyinSD]

A lot of what you read, @CityslickerHomestead , is opinion. One person has the opinion (the feed manufacturer) that you should always feed grit. Another person (the store adviser) has the opinion that it’s not needed with mushy food (likely true enough); a third (such as myself) says “Feed it if you want to. It won’t hurt them and may well do some good we don’t know about yet.” A LOT of what you will read and hear is opinion.

People want to help one another, so they share what they do, that has worked for them. If you do what they suggest (any of them), you’ll likely have success. If you diverge because something seems wrong or too much trouble, you’ll likely have success. It’s possible to mess this up, but in all honesty, baby chickens are not as fragile as they look. And if they are, there is likely not a lot you can do to keep them around however you try.

Oh yes... you can absolutely expect different-sized breeds to mature at different rates, so please don’t let that trouble you.

You can do this, and you ARE doing this, and those are some lucky, lucky babies to be in your care. Have fun—they’re not little for very long.

 

[CityslickerHomestead]

A lot of what you read, @CityslickerHomestead , is opinion. One person has the opinion (the feed manufacturer) that you should always feed grit. Another person (the store adviser) has the opinion that it’s not needed with mushy food (likely true enough); a third (such as myself) says “Feed it if you want to. It won’t hurt them and may well do some good we don’t know about yet.” A LOT of what you will read and hear is opinion.

People want to help one another, so they share what they do, that has worked for them. If you do what they suggest (any of them), you’ll likely have success. If you diverge because something seems wrong or too much trouble, you’ll likely have success. It’s possible to mess this up, but in all honesty, baby chickens are not as fragile as they look. And if they are, there is likely not a lot you can do to keep them around however you try.

Oh yes... you can absolutely expect different-sized breeds to mature at different rates, so please don’t let that trouble you.

You can do this, and you ARE doing this, and those are some lucky, lucky babies to be in your care. Have fun—they’re not little for very long.

I have to remind myself between all the water changes and brooder cleanings to take pictures of them. They are such cuties and one of my regrets as a parent was being too tired to take pictures of my son when he was a baby and actually ENJOY the moments instead of wondering if he was going to die of SIDS every time I put him down for a nap.