I’m not sure what’s happening with these chicks but their crops are really full and won’t stop trying to eat.

[Kiwichickensss]

So I got these chicks from a friend who got a allergic reaction to them, they’re three weeks old, when I gave them food and water they kept eating and drinking like there’s no tomorrow, I took the food and water away because they looked really full and I waited a bit (like half an hour) to see if it’d empty but it still looks really big, is it possible they ate too much? I think they were starving and dehydrated when I got them which is why they’re really hungry and thirsty but I’m mostly concerned at how full their crops are yet won’t stop eating if I put the food back. But they are pooping and their crop is squishy which I know is normal, I’m just concerned and not sure what I should do. It’s been like 3 hours since I’ve gotten them and their crop hasn’t changed but I can’t remember if their crop was full when I just got them. They are active but won’t stop digging in the wood shavings for food

 

[WingItRanch]

That's pretty normal. The crops will look large on chicks because their bodies are so tiny so it's more noticeable.

Crops go down overnight. You won't notice a change in a couple hours. I would just leave their food and water down and check them first thing in the morning. Their crops should be empty when they first wake up.

 

[coach723]

Sounds like normal behavior to me. How many chicks in that bin, looks small for them. Do they have room to get out from under the heat lamp? They need to be able to move in and out of the heat to regulate their temperature, if they get too warm you will have problems. If they have full crops now you can remove the food for the night, and see if they go down by morning. Then all is normal. I would not remove their water. In a normal setting they would sleep all night and not eat til the sun comes up. With a heat lamp making it light they will come out and eat sometimes. But honestly, they look fine and healthy, so it's probably fine, they were just hungry. They are hungry all the time, they grow like crazy.

 

[NatJ]

If they have full crops now you can remove the food for the night, and see if they go down by morning. Then all is normal. I would not remove their water.

That would depend on what time zone they are in. If it is evening, I agree that removing the food should be fine (not necessary, but not a problem either). But if there are still several hours of day left, I would leave the food available until evening.

I agree about keeping the water available all the time, not removing it.

 

[coach723]

That would depend on what time zone they are in. If it is evening, I agree that removing the food should be fine. But if there are still several hours of day left, I would leave the food available until evening.

Good catch, I'm tired (in my time zone) and badly assumed everyone lives where I do.

 

[Kiwichickensss]

Sounds like normal behavior to me. How many chicks in that bin, looks small for them. Do they have room to get out from under the heat lamp? They need to be able to move in and out of the heat to regulate their temperature, if they get too warm you will have problems. If they have full crops now you can remove the food for the night, and see if they go down by morning. Then all is normal. I would not remove their water. In a normal setting they would sleep all night and not eat til the sun comes up. With a heat lamp making it light they will come out and eat sometimes. But honestly, they look fine and healthy, so it's probably fine, they were just hungry. They are hungry all the time, they grow like crazy.

They’re in a small space because it’s temporary since I found someone to take them tomorrow but I have them for the night and I couldn’t find anything bigger. Also I just turned the heat lamp on for little bits of time because they enjoy it but not too long.

 

[Kiwichickensss]

That's pretty normal. The crops will look large on chicks because their bodies are so tiny so it's more noticeable.

Crops go down overnight. You won't notice a change in a couple hours. I would just leave their food and water down and check them first thing in the morning. Their crops should be empty when they first wake up.

Ok thanks so much for the reassurance, I’ve just never had chicks who’ve acted like this

 

[coach723]

Chicks need to have heat at 95 degrees F. the first week and it reduces by 5 degrees each week til 5-6 weeks old. If the ambient temperature is not lower than 80-85 degrees (depending if they're in their 3rd or 4th week, then the heat lamp probably isn't needed. If it's dropping lower than that, they will need a heat source.

 

[Kiwichickensss]

Chicks need to have heat at 95 degrees F. the first week and it reduces by 5 degrees each week til 5-6 weeks old. If the ambient temperature is not lower than 80-85 degrees (depending if they're in their 3rd or 4th week, then the heat lamp probably isn't needed. If it's dropping lower than that, they will need a heat source.

They’re three weeks old, and before I got them my friend was keeping them outside during the day which has been in the 70’s Fahrenheit so they’re used to that, I’m not keeping them outside but it is 75 in my house, they’re acting ok to the current temperature they just enjoy the occasional time with the sunlamp.