Chicks die from too much food

[MysteryChicken]

C

Chickens don’t overeat and get impacted crop... the impacted crop causes the crop to bloat and swell... it is instinct to fill the crop, regardless of whether the food is going down or not. I would suggest separating that chicken and keeping it from food for 24 hours to give the food a chance to go down, and then see what you’re dealing with.
to the OP.... at two weeks old your chicks don’t need grit unless you are already allowing them to forage outside in a safe area. The chick starter is all they need. You can start them on chick grit once they start to forage / treats are given at an appropriate age. Your chick likely died from choking.

He had a blockage, the crop didn't empty over night. This was 4 days ago. I had no way of separating him, since he's at my house. I've took his food away every once in awhile just putting it back in for his hatch mates to eat.

I got rid of the blockage with coconut oil, & crop massages until I felt it pass. It took two days to get rid of it.

He did over eat. His crop was empty before he started eating. After he was done eating his crop was alittle bigger then a golf ball. I witnessed this, but didn't witness if he ate something to cause a blockage.
A day later a chick picked something out of the wood chips. I took it away, & it was a small piece of black plastic. So I suspect that caused the blockage.

The crop doesn't empty all the way over night, I've tried several times. Even putting the chicks to bed earlier.

 

[Sally PB]

When my chicks were little and I soooo wanted to give them a treat, someone mentioned wetting the chick starter feed with a little water to make a mash. They LOVED it! I had it in my hand. It felt like being tapped with 6 dull pencils. Just saying this for future reference. I'm sorry about the little one who didn't make it.

 

[NatJ]

to the OP.... at two weeks old your chicks don’t need grit unless you are already allowing them to forage outside in a safe area. The chick starter is all they need. You can start them on chick grit once they start to forage / treats are given at an appropriate age. Your chick likely died from choking.

If two week old chicks are being fed other food, they need grit.
If they only have chick starter and water, then grit is not needed (but not harmful either.)

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hello. My post is about overfeeding chicks like overfeeding goldfish. Yesterday night I gave fish, blueberries, peanuts and pecans. I woke up one died. I am making this in case more die in the near future.

2 weeks old. No grit. Will buy some soon.

Chick grit and water is the first thing I provide chicks, especially if they are in a brooder, but I also make it available for chicks that are outside.
Just hatched chicks fresh out of the incubator will pick up a couple of pieces of grit.

Sorry that your chick died, but if you are giving anything besides chick starter, they need grit.
Treats should be given in moderation for brooder raised chicks.

 

[Starburst]

Hello. My post is about overfeeding chicks like overfeeding goldfish. Yesterday night I gave fish, blueberries, peanuts and pecans. I woke up one died. I am making this in case more die in the near future.

2 weeks old. No grit. Will buy some soon.

As said, chicks at that age shouldn’t be getting too many treats, if any. If anything but chick feed is offered, they need to have grit. I put my grit in a small dish so that they have access to it whenever needed. I will occasionally offer a small treat of oats and such, but this is kept to the minimum, and grit is always offered. While overeating is possible, especially with treats, it’s more likely that the treats you gave may have not been digested properly.
So sorry for your loss.

 

[aart]

Hello. My post is about overfeeding chicks like overfeeding goldfish. Yesterday night I gave fish, blueberries, peanuts and pecans. I woke up one died. I am making this in case more die in the near future.

2 weeks old. No grit. Will buy some soon.

Even with grit, 2wo chicks should NOT be eating any of that stuff. SMH.

ETA...added "not" to sentence.

 

[NatJ]

Even with grit, 2wo chicks should be eating any of that stuff. SMH.

Quantity makes a big difference. Since OP was worried about whether the chicks overate, they probably had a lot. But small amounts might have been fine.

 

[Jabebee13]

I got the information I needed. Thanks. Chick starter only.

 

[aart]

But small amounts might have been fine.

Maybe, but best not.