Huge crop 4 week old chick

[LoveFluffyButts]

One of my babies has a HUGE squishy crop. It’s so big that it looks awkward. She acts fine and pecks around and eats like all the others. This picture was taken yesterday and it seems bigger today. We just lost one of our oldest hens yesterday. We can’t take all the heartache!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

One of my babies has a HUGE squishy crop. It’s so big that it looks awkward. She acts fine and pecks around and eats like all the others. This picture was taken yesterday and it seems bigger today. We just lost one of our oldest hens yesterday. We can’t take all the heartache!

How are you brooding the chicks? Is light on 24/7?

If she's not under light all the time, it's easier to check crop function. See if that crop is empty first thing in the morning before she eats/drinks.

Sometimes their crop can look huge but keep checking to see if it's going down - chicks eat all the time it seems so it can be hard to gauge whether there's something wrong or if they have been pigging out.

 

[LoveFluffyButts]

How are you brooding the chicks? Is light on 24/7?

If she's not under light all the time, it's easier to check crop function. See if that crop is empty first thing in the morning before she eats/drinks.

Sometimes their crop can look huge but keep checking to see if it's going down - chicks eat all the time it seems so it can be hard to gauge whether there's something wrong or if they have been pigging out.

The light is on all night. None of the others have the huge crop. Hers is the size of a tennis ball almost. Has been all
Day long. It’s squishy too.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

The light is on all night. None of the others have the huge crop. Hers is the size of a tennis ball almost. Has been all
Day long. It’s squishy too.

How is she this morning?

If she's eating/drinking all day long, then it's hard to tell if there's a crop issue or if she's just eating.
Is she pooping? What's that like?

 

[LoveFluffyButts]

How is she this morning?

If she's eating/drinking all day long, then it's hard to tell if there's a crop issue or if she's just eating.
Is she pooping? What's that like?

She seems to be eating a lot more than all the others. Waiting for her to poop now. She loves clovers, I do Know that! Lol

 

[LoveFluffyButts]

Ok she finally pooped and it is very small. I have Been massaging her crop and gave some water with ACV. I have Attached a picture of her crop. It looks like a big bubble.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She seems to be eating a lot more than all the others. Waiting for her to poop now. She loves clovers, I do Know that! Lol

Ok she finally pooped and it is very small. I have Been massaging her crop and gave some water with ACV. I have Attached a picture of her crop. It looks like a big bubble.

Does she have a source of grit available free choice?
The crop is quite prominent that's for sure. You may need to take away food/water for the night and see if that crop empties. If it doesn't then treating her for crop issues would be in order.

 

[LoveFluffyButts]

They have a dirt floor in the coop and she free ranges for a bit every day. Also put some extra grit in there yesterday for them. She seems tired as well. It will
Not hurt her at that age to be without food overnight?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

They have a dirt floor in the coop and she free ranges for a bit every day. Also put some extra grit in there yesterday for them. She seems tired as well. It will
Not hurt her at that age to be without food overnight?

No it won't hurt her to go without food overnight.

I use a heating pad system and for the most part my chicks go to bed at dusk like the grown ups and sleep through the night. Chicks that are broody raised sleep all night with Mama.

 

[LoveFluffyButts]

Ok had her overnight inside and it was just as big this morning. Right now we are massaging the crop and giving her baking soda water? I don’t know what to do