Crop questions

[vintage]

Woke up this morning and cleaned the brooder out. When I do a complete clean, I also clean out their feeder. This morning when I refilled the feeder, they rushed in and ate, as the chicks were walking away from the feeder I noticed several had pretty full crops. I took no notice before they ate as to whether the crops were empty. They're acting normal, eating chick grit right now. Should I just keep an eye on their crops and make sure the crops empty? Google has me in a panic.

 

[azygous]

Age of chicks? Chicks from hatch to about four weeks can have very large crops when full. It's common and natural.

If a chick were to become obstructed, impacted crop or constipated, it will slow down, become inactive, standing in mostly one spot, chirping in discomfort. Crops will fill and empty several times a day. Unless you have a lighted brooder where the chicks eat all night long (not recommended), their crops should empty overnight.

 

[vintage]

Three weeks old, not lethargic at the moment. I'll keep an eye out. They do have a heat lamp.

 

[azygous]

Having light 24/7 sometimes encourages chicks to eat around the clock. This puts a lot of extra strain on their crops and digestive systems. It also encourages too rapid growth in some breeds, setting chicks up for bone injuries as their leg bones can't grow as fast as they are adding weight.

Blocking the light at night with a dark cloth between light and the chicks can help. Other heat sources that don't produce light are much better for chicks.

I noticed that my local TSC store has done away with heat lamps for the chicks they have for sale. They are now using heat plates. Many of us use the heating pad method. Heating pads are much cheaper that heat plates, and more closely mimic a broody hen by providing direct contact heat. This may be something you may want to consider.