Can a 3 week old chick get an impacted crop?

[faith0428]

One of our three week old chicks appears to have an impacted crop. At least that's the only thing I can think of it being. Of course I am totally new to owning chickens other than having them as a child, and I totally don't remember us having any medical issues with ours.

Under it's neck on the right side is a pretty big bulge. It's fairly hard - not squishy. Can a chick this young get an impacted crop? Should I take her food away for a while? I heard that chicks will find other things to eat if food isn't around, so am not sure if taking the food away is what I should do. Also heard about giving Apple Cider Vinegar to help clear it up. Just not sure what to do. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

 

[ICallMyselfCherie']

Hi there. Yes, young birds can get impacted crops, too. But having a fairly large, hard crop doesn't have to mean that there's something wrong, it could just be that they've eaten alot and haven't had much water. How long has it been full like that? Does it empty, or stay full all the time?

 

[ICallMyselfCherie']

Oh, and

 

[Gypsy07]

I suspect that what you have there is actually just an Extremely Greedy Chick! I usually have at least one like that out of every hatch. The first ever chicks I had, I was in a panic about impacted crops too, cause this one little guy always looked like he was close to bursting point, but he was just being a little piglet with his chick crumbs. If you use a heat lamp they don't stop eating at night, they just stuff themselves constantly cause they don't see a difference between day and night with the light being on all the time. If you want to check that that's all it is, take away their food overnight and in the morning the crop should be mostly emptied out.

 

[faith0428]

I thought I noticed something a little odd last night when I looked in on it before bed, but didn't investigate. This morning the lump was quite obvious and has been there all day. They have food and water 24/7. This chick is actually separated from the others for now because when we got home from church yesterday I noticed the others had been pecking at it and it had bloody spots on its wings and tail where its adult feathers are coming in. And yes, we do have a heat lamp on them. I'll take away the food tonight and see if it's better in the morning. Thanks.

 

[ICallMyselfCherie']

It sounds like separating that chick is probably the right thing to do at this point because of the picking. Maybe if you could find a smaller, more docile chick who wouldn't harrass him to put in there with him it would make him less lonely. Also, I try not to keep much food in my brooders at night because I have heard that there is evidence that it can kill them. Apparently chicks sometimes gorge themselves all the time and their heart can grow too fast and they die.

Somebody here can correct me if this information is inacurate.