chicks with large crop AM UPDATE

[nelgkel]

I am new to this...everything I have read here says it is ok to do grit....we got construction sand for the chicks! They LOVE IT!! some of their crops are large....is this normal?? nervous and new


UPDATE~ crops are down some....still a little large....if construction sand is too fine will this cause a problem?? THANKS!

 

[nelgkel]

really hoping to get some info....kind of freaked out by how large their crops are...we will see in the morning how they are...

THANKS!!!

 

[Bantamfarmer]

I have noticed that mine where getting rather large as well! And I was worried, but it does eventually go away

 

[Boo-Boo's Mama]

Crop may be large late in the day but should go down overnight.

Good luck with your babes!

 

[HathawayHens]

yeah the crop will get big but then empties as they use the food... just make sure their feed is getting eaten every day, they are probably fine! mine always get large crops when they have been eating food or grit.

 

[teach1rusl]

Don't worry; it's just from pigging out all day. If you put the food up and checked on them first thing in the morning, the "swelling" should be gone...all pooped away...lol. However, I'm not suggesting that you DO put their food away at this age.

 

[Sgsf]

What do you mean by Crops?

 

[nelgkel]

huge sigh of relief!!! Thank ya'll for the responses!!
they are two weeks old tomorrow and this just has not been something I have noticed before tonight...I am soooo paranoid!!
was nervous it was from the all you can eat grit!
I will let ya know how they are in the morning..

THANKS!!!!!

 

[elmo]

The growth rate of chicks is phenomenal. To grow that fast, they really can't take a break from processing food even during the night. That's where the crop comes in. They stuff it with food before they settle in for the night, and sort of nosh all night. The food moves from the crop down into the gizzard and through the rest of the chick's digestive system as they rest. As others have said, the crop will be empty or nearly so by morning.

Last year when I was raising chicks for the first time, when I first noticed a full crop I thought it might be some kind of tumor! Thankfully, I was able to research here and find the explanation. Whew.

p.s. just wait until you see your first fizzing cecal poop! That's normal, too.

 

[nelgkel]

YUCK!!!! that sounds absolutely delightful Elmo...NOT!!!!