LingonberryJamster
Chirping
- Jun 17, 2025
- 11
- 56
- 51
CHICK & INITIAL SYMPTOMS DESCRIPTION
5 day old Buckeye chick, smaller than its Buckeye hatchlings. (My first ever batch of chicks, all hatched by incubator).
Yesterday noon, I saw the chick standing, panting, eyes closed. I suspected a too hot brooder. No others have same symptoms (but I off'ed the space heater anyway leaving warming plate). I saw no injuries nor at the time noticed crop or this swollen "bubble" on chest.
The feed is standard chick starter. I have a heater plate so the chick may have stayed under so I didn't see it was smaller than others. Poop appears normal.
The 5/6 day old Chicks are in a baby swimming pool with heating plate and on demand feeder/water for baby chicks. I'm changing the puppy peed pad daily but it's a mess quickly so need changing more often. I have a lame Salmon Faverolle chick I have been treating initially, so I wanted a flat surface.
ADMINISTERED TREATMENTS SO FAR
I initially thought it was pasty butt but I was mistaken. Chick appeared in life-threatening crisis, so I administered sugar water by dropper to perk it then offered cooked yolk buts. This worked great. After reviving, chick obviously wanted to stay close (preferring my hand, then chest & neck).
At some point I did hear clicking with the panting. I'm hard of hearing so I was not sure.
At 6:30pm, I had to put chick in a prepared box while I fed pigs. I gave the chick a buddy buckeye in box. When I returned, the sick chick was highly upset and clung to me. I calmed it down but it began to deteriorate.
I administered more sugared water. I tried plain yogurt/feed mix but chick didn't take. Chick is weakening.
BUBBLE & HARD CROP DISCOVERED
At this point (10pm), I discovered a hard crop and on the chicks right breast a soft, filled bubble. Chick is panting and weakened.
I treated the crop with coconut oil and massage. It did not resolve at first so waited 30 min and repeated. I fell asleep but woke and settled chick in box for safety overnight -- fearing the worst to come.
Attached photo shows the chick moistened with coconut oil that dropped a bit during treatment.
STATUS NOW
Chick is alive! Panting, clicking sound clear, and weak however. I fear the sugar water &/or yolk as possibly harmful causing the crop issue.
INTENT
Treating myself. I live very rural and very is an hour. I have a bit of nerve but still not confident especially as new to chickens.
THANK YOU
I'm super grateful for this forum. It's such an important community solution for sharing wisdom.
I am really pleased this exists and hope more develop for many other social needs. I last saw one 15 years ago for human skin conditions and it was brilliant but was later made into a paywall and disappeared. Other topic forums are paywalled too which ruin! these forums and community. So thank you.
5 day old Buckeye chick, smaller than its Buckeye hatchlings. (My first ever batch of chicks, all hatched by incubator).
Yesterday noon, I saw the chick standing, panting, eyes closed. I suspected a too hot brooder. No others have same symptoms (but I off'ed the space heater anyway leaving warming plate). I saw no injuries nor at the time noticed crop or this swollen "bubble" on chest.
The feed is standard chick starter. I have a heater plate so the chick may have stayed under so I didn't see it was smaller than others. Poop appears normal.
The 5/6 day old Chicks are in a baby swimming pool with heating plate and on demand feeder/water for baby chicks. I'm changing the puppy peed pad daily but it's a mess quickly so need changing more often. I have a lame Salmon Faverolle chick I have been treating initially, so I wanted a flat surface.
ADMINISTERED TREATMENTS SO FAR
I initially thought it was pasty butt but I was mistaken. Chick appeared in life-threatening crisis, so I administered sugar water by dropper to perk it then offered cooked yolk buts. This worked great. After reviving, chick obviously wanted to stay close (preferring my hand, then chest & neck).
At some point I did hear clicking with the panting. I'm hard of hearing so I was not sure.
At 6:30pm, I had to put chick in a prepared box while I fed pigs. I gave the chick a buddy buckeye in box. When I returned, the sick chick was highly upset and clung to me. I calmed it down but it began to deteriorate.
I administered more sugared water. I tried plain yogurt/feed mix but chick didn't take. Chick is weakening.
BUBBLE & HARD CROP DISCOVERED
At this point (10pm), I discovered a hard crop and on the chicks right breast a soft, filled bubble. Chick is panting and weakened.
I treated the crop with coconut oil and massage. It did not resolve at first so waited 30 min and repeated. I fell asleep but woke and settled chick in box for safety overnight -- fearing the worst to come.
Attached photo shows the chick moistened with coconut oil that dropped a bit during treatment.
STATUS NOW
Chick is alive! Panting, clicking sound clear, and weak however. I fear the sugar water &/or yolk as possibly harmful causing the crop issue.
INTENT
Treating myself. I live very rural and very is an hour. I have a bit of nerve but still not confident especially as new to chickens.
THANK YOU
I'm super grateful for this forum. It's such an important community solution for sharing wisdom.
I am really pleased this exists and hope more develop for many other social needs. I last saw one 15 years ago for human skin conditions and it was brilliant but was later made into a paywall and disappeared. Other topic forums are paywalled too which ruin! these forums and community. So thank you.
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