The crop is an enlarged portion of the esophagus that holds food until it can move down the digestive tract. You should be able to see it on the chest (looks like a small lump--it will be easier to see at night because chickens eat more before they go to sleep). Feel it, and note whether it is rock hard or squishy and balloon-like. A impacted crop would feel really hard, and a sour crop would feel squishy. It will generally feel rather hard, but if it looks larger than the crops of the other chicks or feels especially hard/soft, there may be a problem.
Ok so I checked all of my chicks crops. The other two have squishy and kind of grainy crops (if im feeling them right). And the problem chick I couldn't really get a good feel on because every time i tried to feel the area she would squeal and try to get away, which leads me to believe it might be painful for her. What should I do if there is some problem with the crop? So far they are all acting perfectly normal. I gave them a little bowl of sifted dirt to bath in, and so far they are just eating it, which I assume is a good thing.
If you think that there's a problem with the crops, I'd give them some olive oil. This might help loosen any blockage. Give probiotics, too, as it will help if the bird has sour crop.
Do I mix the olive oil with water or just give them some straight? and would yogurt work for probiotics?
