How do I fix a swollen full crop?

[gabrielle1976]

My little 3 or so week old chick has a full firm crop, there has been no change in about 12 hours that I have noticed it though I cant say for shure that it hasnt been there for at least 2 days as I have been busy and there is a chance I could have missed it thought not a large one.
Can I help him?

 

[gabrielle1976]

aperntly I dont then

 

[aggieterpkatie]

Is he eating all the time? Crops are meant to be full, that's where the food is stored until it gets mashed up to get digested.

 

[Wynette]

OH, goodness, hon - sorry no one's popped in on your thread. I'm not much help, either. This is actually "one" thing I've not dealt with yet! But, I have read on here that the acidity of a tsp. of apple cider vinegar (with the mother) squirted in the mouth sometimes helps the crop contents to go down. I don't know about such a young one, though. Also, I believe you are supposed to separate them so they do not have access to more food until it's resolved, but I'm not 100% sure. Do a search on "sour crop" and you'll find LOTS of info.!! GOOD LUCK!

 

[Country4ever]

I've only dealt with impacted crops on older hens. Assuming that's what going on, here's what I'd do.........gently massage the crop many times a day. Squeeze it and try to break up the mass that's in there.
I also give a couple cc's of some vegetable oil. You should use a 1 cc syringe and be sure to go down the throat far enough. If you can't do that, offer a little piece of bread that is super saturated with oil. Olive oil is my fav, since it seems to have other good effects.
You might have to put water down his throat with a syringe too. But massaging, in my opinion, is the most important thing.
Quit feeding him for a day. Massage, message, message.

 

[ruth]

If he's only three weeks old and has only been eating chick starter, you shouldn't have anything to worry about. He couldn't have eating anything to block or "stop up" his crop. Impacted crops and sour crops is usually where they ate something that didn't break down like it should have. Little chicks at that age just like to pig out and always have a full crop because they eat all night long (given that the light is on for them). The only reason adult chickens' crops go down overnight is because they roost and don't eat but little chicks with a light will stay up and eat all night. So, shouldn't be anything to worry about. I would leave it alone.

Plus, you have to really, really know what you are doing before forcing any fluids down their throats.

 

[gabrielle1976]

Im not even shure if its impacted or what not , its full really full but when I squish it it dosnt feel like its rock hard , there are no hard bits in there its all just firm squishy ness if that makes sense. Ill do a search and see what I find.

 

[ruth]

Quote:
As I said, I think it is perfectly normal. Other than a full crop, is there something else that causes you to worry?

 

[Country4ever]

Is this the only chick like that?
I forget.....does chick feed have grit in it? or do you have to supply chick grit?

 

[gabrielle1976]

He is tiny , he hasnt grown alot , but I dont know what type of chick he is , the other chick with him is a silky but he is some sort of mix no idea what , he dosnt get grit in his food , he eats what the game bird babies eat as I cant buy 50 pounds of game bird feed and 25 pounds of chick starter and they like to sale only in big bags , I read that the game bird starter was ok for chicks? Ill go get him so chick starter if you think that will help, Ill also put gravel into the feed if that will help.
The silky chick almost never has a full crop he just picks all day and night never stuffs himself .