HELP! Baby chick suddenly shrieks/shakes head & lethargic.

[ChimiChanga808]

Help!
I have 2.5 week old chicks. Both were completely fine this morning playing.
Then suddenly one started having these sudden single loud shrieks & would jump up in the air or shake its head violently.
Became very lethargic between.
I read about gapeworms, but they only eat starter feed still. Then read about impacted crop, and did notice it’s crop very hard. Didn’t see any blockage in throat, so I tried to dropper in some oil and and massage the crop. Tried upside down to get it to gag. Nothing.
It isn’t eating or drinking. And it doesn’t seem like water is even going down- water just stays in it’s mouth. Now he’s getting dizzy.
What do I do?

 

[ChimiChanga808]

Pooping just fine. Not pasty butt.

 

[microchick]

2.5 weeks and starter feed doesn't sound like a scenario for gape worms.

You said that the crop feels very full. Sometimes they will stretch out their neck and make these wiggling motions with their heads in order to position the food in their crops. Any chance this is what the little one is doing?

I'm going to tag @Wyorp Rock @casportpony @aart and see if they can help figure out what you are dealing with.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Can you get a video of their actions or maybe some photos of them?

Possibly swallowed something and now has a blockage. It won't swallow water at all?

 

[ChimiChanga808]

I wouldn’t say the crop felt too full- but felt hard. It has scratched at its neck with its foot. But since this began, it actually hasn’t extended its neck at all. It’s very lethargic. I actually feel like I may have just stressed it out more massaging the crop/now it feels bigger.
Thank you for your help! I really appreciate it

 

[ChimiChanga808]

Nothing visible in throat. When I droppered honey water or even dunked it’s beak, the water isn’t going down. Water just staying in its mouth.
Photos just show lethargic. Cant upload videos on here

 

[ChimiChanga808]

@Wyorp Rock @microchick

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry, I don't know what else you can do if you don't see anything blocking the throat.
There may be something further down - hard to know. Can you see her tongue - it's still there?

 

[microchick]

Is starter feed the only thing available for it to eat? Are you feeding any treats?

If it has overeaten/overfilled its crop time may be your best treatment to see if it empties on its own. Giving it the few drops of olive oil isn't going to harm it and may get things moving.

 

[ChimiChanga808]

Just chick starter/usually add water too it because they like the soggier/smaller feed.
I oddly pulled one of my hairs out of its throat this evening and it was very traumatic. Looked like it was pulling its tongue out but it wasn’t wrapped around the tongue. Same condition after.
I tried oil earlier today. Tried pedialyte this afternoon- and the chick is having a hard time swallowing. You can hear the water in it’s throat and it opens it’s mouth like it wants to throw it up/the liquids not going anywhere.
@Wyorp Rock @microchick