Chick Gasping/Choking

[Stephanie Mitchell]

I have a chick who is making dramatic movements, gasping by raising its head up and gulping air. I picked it up and tried massaging it's crop to see if that was the issue and it seemed to make liquid bubble up into its mouth. Before this it was drinking on its own, however when it takes a sip of water it makes lots of gasps afterward as if its having trouble swallowing. If it survives another night I will try adding chick grit to the brooder to see if that maybe helps. I have looked into its mouth and saw no obstructions. I think this is the same baby that was born with star gazing and I treated it with vitamins and was giving it water with a dropper at the time. It was only born a few days ago and I worry its not going to make it. I can't take losing another baby I just lost one last night out of the blue. Nobody seems to know whats happening on the other forums where people are asking about similar issues. It won't be a gapeworm as its never been exposed to anything other than chick starter in an enclosed brooder. First I had them on shredded straw but covered that in paper towels yesterday morning because I was worried about them ingesting it.

 

[azygous]

Has the chick been eating anything at all? At just a few days old, they won't eat much, but from the symptoms you describe, it does sound like a crop issue. Sometimes constipation can occur, combined with pasty butt, and this can back up to the crop. A half teaspoon of coconut oil might help, with a gentle crop massage.

 

[Stephanie Mitchell]

I'm pretty sure I saw it pecking at food once I put it down after first trying to massage the crop. Its hard to feel it's crop it's not like my hens where it's a very obvious full protruding lump. I can feel it's neck bone and that's all that was hard in there. Didn't look like pasty butt at all, definitely was drinking water on its own at least. I really hope I do think go check on it in the morning and find it dead I'm really losing hope here raising chickens

 

[Stephanie Mitchell]

I'm scared to keep pressing it's neck/crop area as there was bubbling liquid coming up into its mouth because of this and I don't want it to aspirate or something

 

[chickens really]

Sometimes chicks fail to thrive. Possibly a genetic issue?..
Best wishes.

 

[Stephanie Mitchell]

Well it made it through another night. Gave it a couple drops of olive oil this morning and provided grit. It definitely tries to drink on its own but I didn't see it try to eat.