Help! Wobbly 3 week old chick

[DownByTheRiver]

Well this morning she’s leaning to the right, and her left breast looks big. She’s got a lump just to the left of her breastbone. What could that be?

 

[DownByTheRiver]

Well it’s her crop, I just looked that up. She was eating a lot last night. I’ll keep an eye on it. But do you two know what to do for an impacted crop just in case?

 

[Eggcessive]

Are you sure the lump is on her left or her right? The crop is normally on her right upper chest unless there is a birth defect. If it is soft or full of food, it may be just a full crop. It usually empties overnight after they sleep.

 

[DownByTheRiver]

It’s on her left. If you are looking at her head on, it’s on the right

 

[Stephine]

How is the chickie doing?

 

[DownByTheRiver]

@Stephine she is still doing well. I got stuff to take care of her impacted crop. A friend and I are doing it in the morning.

 

[Stephine]

Good to hear she‘s ok. Why do you think she has an impacted crop? With just crumbles to eat that should be pretty much impossible. If you give treats you need to give grit, which is actually good to give, even if you just feed crumbles to properly develop the gizzard.
Regardless, to feel if feed is actually not moving on properly from the crop the bird needs to be fasted. If your chicks are on a heat lamp they can wake up and eat all night - they will never have an empty crop. If you withdraw the feed at night and then check her in the morning you could find out if her crop empties properly, but I wouldn’t do that unless they are actually sleeping (meaning kept without light) during the night...

 

[DownByTheRiver]

@Stephine
I have a mamma heating pad setup I’m going to put in there and take out the heat lamp . She’s got a large lump on her left breast. It’s not round, but feels thick and sort of rectangular. I’m wondering if she ate a pine chip and it’s stuck in there. She is eating and pooping ok.

 

[Stephine]

Can you post a picture? As someone said, the crop should be on the other side. Also, if she is eating and pooping fine, things are moving through her fine.

 

[DownByTheRiver]