Chick w/ swollen crop - HELP PLEASE!

[hd_darcy]

I have two week-old baby chicks that are in the coop (w/ wood shavings)... Both have swollen crops. I don't know what to do. My husband noticed it last night. One is worse than the other. They seem to be acting okay otherwise, but they were still swollen this morning, so I don't think they are just storing their food. My question is what do I do?! How do I take away their food if they are with mom? Should I bring them in away from mom for awhile? if I do that, will mom allow them back? UGH.... To add to it, they are the only two to that hatch. However, I had 5 more hatch between today and yesterday from a different hen that are now hanging out with the other mom, and the other two babies... So, the mom would have babies to still take care of if I snuck these two in (she'd have the new ones).

Any suggestions PLEASE?! Thank you!

 

[WallTenters]

Leave them alone. Make sure they have a bit of grit or sand to eat, the mom will take good care of them otherwise. If they start getting lethargic or haven't eaten for a day or two, you can massage the crop and sometimes force a bit up and a bit down, or you may have to do surgery.

However, 9 times out of 10, it just looks huge and swollen and dangerous and the chickies are fat and happy from all that food they ate

They can be little piggies! Just make sure they have plenty of water to slide it all down.