Ack! Mass on the front of my chicks

[afj6710]

I just noticed that some of my chicks have a large, round mass on the right front side of their chests - larger than a grape but not as big as a golf ball. DH says this is normal and that it is just their stomachs, that they just don't have the muscle to hold it in right yet. I've never noticed it before (my whole 3 weeks as a chicken owner) and haven't been able to check my other ones to see if they have it too.

Should I freak out or is this completely normal?

 

[Mtn Margie]

Pretty sure you are seeing a full crop. Make sure they have grit if they are getting anything but chick starter.

 

[ouracrybaby]

Sounds like you're describing their crop. Some chickens have larger ones than others and it depends on how much they've eaten. I remember the first time I noticed Nuggets, I was right on here trying to diagnose too lol. Read about problems on here with crops, just so you know for future reference what can happen.

 

[llaaadyel]

Sounds like they just have a full crop. Should go down by morning.

 

[afj6710]

They do get chick grit, but I don't know how much of it they are eating. The floor of our coop is also dirt and they peck around a lot for bugs - is that helpful, too. I had just given them some apple when I noticed it. Is that why it was so big? They didn't really have that much apple.

I searched on here for "crop" and read some awful posts.

now, I'm really scared. I'm completely freaked out about crop impaction and sour crop etc. At what point do I know if it is just a full crop vs an impacted crop that needs help?

 

[SunnyChic]

Check their crops tomorrow morning; they should go down through the night as the food digests.

Full crops do look kind of weird! You may want to withhold the chick grit for a few days to see if that helps.

 

[chicktwins]

How much chick grit should they be getting a day? At this point I am still just sprinkling it on top of their starter crumbles not offering it in a separate feeder. Should I offer it free choice? They are 2 weeks old today.

 

[SunnyChic]

If you're just feeding them chick starter, they technically don't need chick grit. The starter feed is easily digested.

 

[chicktwins]

I am following the instructions that were sent by McMurray. It says to start grit, sprinkled on feed, at 3 days old. I know if they are only going to eat the starter crumbles then you do not need the grit, but if they are going to be getting treats they do. So that being said, do I offer it free choice or just continue to sprinkle on top of feed?

 

[SunnyChic]

Have the "bumps" gone down since yesterday? If I feed treats in addition to chick starter, I offer chick grit free choice in a separate container. I don't have it for my chicks that are outside with my broody hens, because I live in Florida and we have sandy soil.