Bulging crops in 1 wk. olds ~HELP!~

[gumpsgirl]

Several of my BBS Orps. that are a wk. old have bulging crops. My splash is the worst. Is this normal or is it a problem? What do I do to fix it? They are only being fed chick starter and water. Their bedding is pine mulch which the 1 wk. old Delawares keep scratching all over into the water. Is there a possibility that the Orp. chicks are eating the mulch out of the water and it's getting stuck in their crops? I've waited so long to have these Orp. babies and I don't want anything to happen to them. I just want to sit and cry.

Please help!

 

[gumpsgirl]

I've just given them some chick starter grit. Is that okay to do?

 

[fowlafoot]

Have the crops been bulging for awhile? Sometimes they just eat too much but if it's been awhile and nothing is passing then they are impacted. Smell their heads and if there is a bad odor then they have sour crop. I've never had to treat chicks for this but the older birds occasionally get it.

 

[angelmarie]

sounds right if they have an obstruction i heard you can use mineral oil, also try massaging their crops maybe that'll get things moving, it might just be that they're little piggies, my hens eat so much it looks like they got a boob job on one side lol

 

[fowlafoot]

I've also used olive oil when I'm out of mineral oil and it works as well. You have to be careful not to get any oil into their lungs. I sent you a PM with a site that has all the instructions for both sour and impacted crops. I've had to treat both and their info has always worked.

 

[gumpsgirl]

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Thanks a million! I am completely panicking about this.

 

[fowlafoot]

We all panic when it's our chicks

but this is very treatable so take a deep breath

 

[gumpsgirl]

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I'm trying hard too. That info. you PM'd me is great! Thank you.