Chick with enlarged crop

[Willawong Hill]

A week ago I noticed my 2 week old silkie chick (3 weeks now) had a squishy large crop. I assumed it was sour crop (though no smell) so I have been treating with thrush medication but it doesn't seem to be getting better. Crop is squishy feeling, though there appears to be some air in there- is it possible there's been some air sac trauma? She has only been fed medicated chick starter but i suspect she has been eating some of the chaff bedding I use as there are some hard bits in her crop, doesn't feel impacted but I assume these bits haven't passed through and started the issue. I did try crop massage but nothing seems to be coming out. Have also fed yogurt and tried multivitamins and ACV in the water. Any other suggestions?

 

[NatJ]

Do you have any other chicks?
If so, is this one's crop distinctly different than the others?
(It's much easier to tell what is normal when you have other ones to compare to.)

If a chicken has a squishy, large crop, my first thought is that it just ate some food and had a large drink, and I wait a day or so to see if it's normal after that. During that day or so of waiting to see, I would provide as much chicken food and water as the chicken wants, but no treats and nothing added to the water. (You may have already done this, but I don't see it mentioned.)

 

[Willawong Hill]

Thanks @NatJ yes, this chick is one of 7. The others all have normal crops which go up and down perhaps to the size of a grape? This one has a crop larger than a golf ball now (chick is about the size of a coffee cup) which does not go down. The crop is mostly squishy, but does appear to have some hard bits floating in it (which I think is bedding it has eaten). It has been so for a week and is getting slowly worse. I did try leaving it for a bit with just medicated chick starter and water but as it didn't go down like usual I tried the thrush treatment and other things in the water along with some yoghurt, oily scrambled eggs, grit to see if it would break up the blockage and various multivitamins etc in the water. Nothing seems to be working after a week. The chick is not being picked on and seems happy but clearly less active than the others now. Watery poop yesterday.

 

[NatJ]

In that case, I hope someone with more experience chimes in, because you've tried all the things I would think of

 

[M.pineda]

I am experiencing the exact same thing. It’s only been going on for 3 days and she’s a week old. I hope someone can help us

 

[Willawong Hill]

@M.pineda how did you go? My chick is now about 12 weeks old, still has an enlarged pendulous crop (was briefly better after surgery but has returned again) but still surviving.

 

[afwifey]

@M.pineda how did you go? My chick is now about 12 weeks old, still has an enlarged pendulous crop (was briefly better after surgery but has returned again) but still surviving.

How is your Silkie? I have one in the same condition and she has stayed swollen but active for a while now. I’m not sure what to try next.

 

[Willawong Hill]

We tried crop surgery and it helped for a little while. She did have impacted crop from eating Lucern chaff bedding. However as soon as she had access to food again her crop was enlarged. I'd say she had crop status and eventually passed away at about 12 weeks. Hope you have better luck.

 

[afwifey]

We tried crop surgery and it helped for a little while. She did have impacted crop from eating Lucern chaff bedding. However as soon as she had access to food again her crop was enlarged. I'd say she had crop status and eventually passed away at about 12 weeks. Hope you have better luck.

I’m so sorry.