llcardinale
Chirping
- May 6, 2025
- 88
- 72
- 63
Hi All,
First time chicken keeper with eight 10 week olds: four German Bielefelder and four Salmon Faverolle. They are still in their 42 sq. ft. brooder with combination bedding of Aspen shavings, straw pellets, and dust extracted cut straw. I'm feeding Scratch & Peck mash, half starter mash and half grower mash (--they have been unwilling to eat crumbles or only grower mash). Also have regularly given broccoli, small pieces of garlic, and small cut wheat grass, along with black fly larvae. Three of the GBs have developed hyperextended firm crops, one with a golf ball size, and the other two with something like a ping pong size. None of the Faverolle have apparent full crops, but they are not nearly as aggressive eaters. The largest has had this going on for at least a couple of days. I thought it would resolve on its own, but not so fast. I separated the two larger crop chicks in their own 24 sq. ft. brooder next to their usual brooder, but one became especially agitated, throwing herself repeatedly against the brooder siding and flapping her wings wildly. I felt terrible and just couldn't stand it. These are the sweetest birds. I put them both back with their mates. I removed the food (--I had given them only wet food today) early in the evening, and turned lights off earlier. So, I plan to allow about 14 hours without food for everyone, and I'll start in the morning earlier then usual by offering the three enlarged crop chicks olive oil in a bowl, and shortly thereafter massaging their crops. If this doesn't work I'll take them to the vet within a couple of days. Their 7x6x7 tent coop is housed in 400 sq. ft. finished shed with exhaust fans at both ends and large windows at both ends, and a whole house hepa air purifier. Fresh water is provided four to five times daily, and the litter is cleaned from their bedding at the same time--all to say that they have a healthy environment. All chicks seem to eat a fair amount of bedding, primarily the Aspen. I'm thinking of getting rid of bedding, at least the Aspen, and maybe going back to only paper towels for awhile if removing the Aspen doesn't lessen their eating of bedding. I'm blown away by how much goes into trying to keep these feather babies healthy. The coop will be ready for them in about a week, but I'm wanting to resolve the impacted crop situation before transitioning them. Any feedback would be appreciated. I don't know anyone who has ever had chickens--so wish I did.
First time chicken keeper with eight 10 week olds: four German Bielefelder and four Salmon Faverolle. They are still in their 42 sq. ft. brooder with combination bedding of Aspen shavings, straw pellets, and dust extracted cut straw. I'm feeding Scratch & Peck mash, half starter mash and half grower mash (--they have been unwilling to eat crumbles or only grower mash). Also have regularly given broccoli, small pieces of garlic, and small cut wheat grass, along with black fly larvae. Three of the GBs have developed hyperextended firm crops, one with a golf ball size, and the other two with something like a ping pong size. None of the Faverolle have apparent full crops, but they are not nearly as aggressive eaters. The largest has had this going on for at least a couple of days. I thought it would resolve on its own, but not so fast. I separated the two larger crop chicks in their own 24 sq. ft. brooder next to their usual brooder, but one became especially agitated, throwing herself repeatedly against the brooder siding and flapping her wings wildly. I felt terrible and just couldn't stand it. These are the sweetest birds. I put them both back with their mates. I removed the food (--I had given them only wet food today) early in the evening, and turned lights off earlier. So, I plan to allow about 14 hours without food for everyone, and I'll start in the morning earlier then usual by offering the three enlarged crop chicks olive oil in a bowl, and shortly thereafter massaging their crops. If this doesn't work I'll take them to the vet within a couple of days. Their 7x6x7 tent coop is housed in 400 sq. ft. finished shed with exhaust fans at both ends and large windows at both ends, and a whole house hepa air purifier. Fresh water is provided four to five times daily, and the litter is cleaned from their bedding at the same time--all to say that they have a healthy environment. All chicks seem to eat a fair amount of bedding, primarily the Aspen. I'm thinking of getting rid of bedding, at least the Aspen, and maybe going back to only paper towels for awhile if removing the Aspen doesn't lessen their eating of bedding. I'm blown away by how much goes into trying to keep these feather babies healthy. The coop will be ready for them in about a week, but I'm wanting to resolve the impacted crop situation before transitioning them. Any feedback would be appreciated. I don't know anyone who has ever had chickens--so wish I did.
