Baby Chicks with crop impaction...

[Artemis Moon]

The one i mentioned earlier is fine but one of my bantams has a small filled crop but shes pecking at it and also making a clicking sound. Is this a noise they make when digesting food over night? Such finicky little creatures they are!:/

 

[uzisuzuki]

How can you tell if a chick (less than a week old) has an impacted crop? I have one that had a rough hatch on Sunday & is much smaller than the other three that hatch. It's crop swelled up huge, for its size, this evening. It eats & drinks like the others, it explores the brooder box (albeit a little more clumsy still) with the others, and it's not acting any different than it has been.

I'm new to this, it's only my third time hatching & my first time with difficult hatches, so I don't know what I'm seeing. The crop isn't rock solid but not squishy. The chicks have only been eating the chick starter, no treats, no chick grit. I can't tell if it just ate a lot or if this is something I need to worry about.

 

[newbiechix]

I'd love an update on this! I have a chick with similar symptoms

 

[uzisuzuki]

Well, didn't get any replies last night, but my little chick seems to be fine this morning. His crop is a little smaller than it was last night. I'm wondering if he's just too scrawny for his appetite/crop looking odd when full. He had a rough hatch & he's not the most robust of chicks. I hope someone answers so you can get help with your chick.

 

[Janice123456]

I've never had a chick with big crop. In raising my 6 as natural as I can. I put yard and garden dirt in small amounts in the brooder second week. Then giving then mealworms and lettuce and cut grass from my lawn. A little every day. I dud not like the sharp edged chick grit at the store. My big girls freerange so they eat small random rocks. More natural.
I also stopped the heat lamp after 2 days and went tio the heading pad method. I saw panting of the chicks and the temp was correct. My chicks are feathered eating drinking etc .
What about water access? If they don't have fresh water and know how abd where to drink that could cause a problem. I put 2 sources water. No additives. A nipple waterer and a dish of water . In training them to do side nipples like big girls. So there are three waters sources now. Just thinking food won't pass right I'd no fresh water . Be sure they are all aware of water. I took each one to water and put beak onto or into water depending on the device or bowl.
A note 3weekers are not sleeping under heat last night. They picked a corner to snuggle together and were nice and warm when I put my hand in the huddle.

 

[NewtonZapple]

I really don't think their crops are impacted. I think they're just eating a lot and they're full...and that's perfectly normal...you don't need to treat them at all. For one, I think they're too young to have impacted crops, unless they are eating wood shavings or hay or something. I wouldn't even suggest separating them from their food because at this age they eat a LOT and should always have food available. They even eat overnight so their crops will still be full in the morning...perfectly normal.

Relax, Mommy

Thanks for asking that question and for the reply! I just popped in to ask the exact question. Phew… there is just soooo much to learn!!