8 week old chick hunched over, large crop?

[Spring Chickens]

I have 3, 8 week old chicks and the last few days one that I think is the only pullet has been more docile and all hunched inside her feathers most of the day, with her short tail pointing down. I attached some bad quality pictures, but it gives the idea of how she has been looking, even when out in the yard.
Still eating and drinking, seems to have an enlarged and hard crop compared to the others, but not sure if this is the only problem?
She is the one on the right in the last picture.

 

[azygous]

Is it winter where you live? If not, why the red heat lamp? I'm curious.

Her posture is indicative of a sick chicken. It could be a crop issue. Have you been supplying grit or putting the chicks outside to scratch for gravel for their gizzards?

If her crop is large and hard, it could be impacted. To verify a crop disorder, you must remove food and water at bedtime and check the crop first this in the morning before providing food and water. It should be empty. If not, you may be dealing with a crop issue. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

If you determine it's not a crop issue, she could still be constipated and need an oil treatment. If that doesn't work, a molasses flush can sometimes open things back up.

There's also the possibility of coccidiosis or a bacterial infection. What does her poop look like?

 

[Spring Chickens]

Is it winter where you live? If not, why the red heat lamp? I'm curious.

Her posture is indicative of a sick chicken. It could be a crop issue. Have you been supplying grit or putting the chicks outside to scratch for gravel for their gizzards?

If her crop is large and hard, it could be impacted. To verify a crop disorder, you must remove food and water at bedtime and check the crop first this in the morning before providing food and water. It should be empty. If not, you may be dealing with a crop issue. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

If you determine it's not a crop issue, she could still be constipated and need an oil treatment. If that doesn't work, a molasses flush can sometimes open things back up.

There's also the possibility of coccidiosis or a bacterial infection. What does her poop look like?

Thanks for the info!
It is getting down to 5 degrees Celsius at night where we live so I have been putting a 60 watt heat lamp in the coop at night, because I was wondering if the cold could have been worsening her condition.
She has been out and had lots of gravel etc.
I have read that crop article and it seems like an impacted crop to me, I actually tried the coconut oil and massage the last 2 days and it seems to break it up and work and then that night and the next morning the crop is back to being huge and hard again, no smaller in the morning than night.
The one poop I saw her have was normal but smaller. I haven't seperated her for a long period to check the poop well yet because she gets so worked up about it, but that might be the next step.

 

[azygous]

Australia or New Zealand? Additional heat is good for a sick bird.

Have you tried a stool softener? Impacted crop can be stubborn. One capsule of a stool softener, not a laxative, might be all it takes to blast the blockage. If that fails, a molasses flush usually gets results. Mix one teaspoon of molasses in a quarter cup of warm water and give it as the sole water source so she consumes all of it. It's safe. So is the stool softener, but try it before the molasses.

 

[Spring Chickens]

Australia or New Zealand? Additional heat is good for a sick bird.

Have you tried a stool softener? Impacted crop can be stubborn. One capsule of a stool softener, not a laxative, might be all it takes to blast the blockage. If that fails, a molasses flush usually gets results. Mix one teaspoon of molasses in a quarter cup of warm water and give it as the sole water source so she consumes all of it. It's safe. So is the stool softener, but try it before the molasses.

Western Canada actually! Just unseasonably cold!

Thank you so much for the advice, I will try that!!