Impacted crop in my 2 week old chick.

[CherryRoadGirl]

Hi there,
One of my 2 week old chicks has an impacted crop. The crop is very large and feels soft and swishy, and it doesn’t go down when left without food and water overnight. What can I do the help this little one?

 

[PrettyCoolChicks]

What do you feed it, just chick starter or also other things? Did you give it grit (tiny rocks) to help break down other things?
Or did it eat something it shouldn't have (e.g. wood shavings maybe)?
If it's something that can go through, I think not giving any more food and gently massaging downwards periodically might help.

 

[CherryRoadGirl]

What do you feed it, just chick starter or also other things? Did you give it grit (tiny rocks) to help break down other things?
Or did it eat something it shouldn't have (e.g. wood shavings maybe)?
If it's something that can go through, I think not giving any more food and gently massaging downwards periodically might help

My guess is it might have eaten some sugar cane mulch. I had only started using the mulch as substrate a half a week ago and noticed the crop after that. I’ve gone back to newspaper now.
I only feed them chick starter. I’ve read that chick grit can help but I’m struggling to find it here.
How often would you suggest massaging the crop? And should I still give water?

 

[PrettyCoolChicks]

My guess is it might have eaten some sugar cane mulch. I had only started using the mulch as substrate a half a week ago and noticed the crop after that. I’ve gone back to newspaper now.
I only feed them chick starter. I’ve read that chick grit can help but I’m struggling to find it here.
How often would you suggest massaging the crop? And should I still give water?

Grit is just small rocks, so milimetre wide pieces of gravel from your driveway or coarse sand if you can find that could work. I wash mine to remove any toxic plant bits (because there's cedar trees nearby). You could also give a clump of grass or dirt and the chick will likely find grit.

Access to water is good. You can also give a drop or two of vegetable oil to help lubricate things.
Massage maybe every hour or every couple of hours?

Here's a good guide: https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ntion-and-treatments-of-crop-disorders.67194/
And this may also be helpful: https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

 

[CherryRoadGirl]

Grit is just small rocks, so milimetre wide pieces of gravel from your driveway or coarse sand if you can find that could work. I wash mine to remove any toxic plant bits (because there's cedar trees nearby). You could also give a clump of grass or dirt and the chick will likely find grit.

Access to water is good. You can also give a drop or two of vegetable oil to help lubricate things.
Massage maybe every hour or every couple of hours?

Here's a good guide: https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ntion-and-treatments-of-crop-disorders.67194/
And this may also be helpful: https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

Thank you. The second link gives great easy instructions. Wish me luck.