Impacted or partially blocked crop in chick?

[Alexdailey]

Good morning,

We purchased chicks from my pet chicken that are now about a week and a half old. They are all doing well with the exception of one of the female Maran assortments, she is about half the size of the others. MPC has been great with assisting us in diagnosis and trouble shooting of problems.

They had us check her for a potential impacted/blocked crop by pulling food and water last night - all of the chicks had empty crops this morning, but her's still had food in it - not huge but still a lump. I tried gently massaging it as they suggested and it went down, but still a little bit there. It's not hard, but her crop was still full prior to massaging it.

I messaged MPC again today to follow up and see what kind of treatment or care we can do to get things unstuck and help her thrive - information I've read so far seems to indicate giving vegetable oil through an eyedropper may help?

They have a brooder plate, she's pooping fairly normal poops, and they have regular water and are eating purina medicated chick starter. I have some non medicated that we are going to switch to and have a bag of chick grit they haven't had any of yet.

She's eating but not vigorously - seemed better after I rubbed her crop. Suggestions or thought? I really want to help this baby chick - I've grown find of her, and based on her markings.i think she's the only golden cuckoo marans in our assortment.

I attached a photo of her with the other chicks where you can see the size difference. This is the box we put them in when cleaning the brooder two or three times a day. They are bedded on paper towels with non skid shelf liner under it, so I know she hasn't been eating any wood shavings.

She is the chick with the yellow spot on her head. Thank you all again for any help or ideas.

Lynette

 

[Eggcessive]

You should always have water available to a chicken with a suspected crop problem. I would dip it’s beak for half a second to get it drinking a lot of water. Also offer some coconut oil which can be chilled in the freezer, cut into tiny slivers, and offered to her. Then massage her crop several times a day. She might have eaten some of her bedding. I hope that you can save her.

 

[Alexdailey]

You should always have water available to a chicken with a suspected crop problem. I would dip it’s beak for half a second to get it drinking a lot of water. Also offer some coconut oil which can be chilled in the freezer, cut into tiny slivers, and offered to her. Then massage her crop several times a day. She might have eaten some of her bedding. I hope that you can save her.

We have them on paper towels which they haven't eaten any of, but I don't know if the material in the shipping box she may have eaten some of it.

I will have to try the coconut oil. She has water at all times, we only pulled it for last night when trying to diagnose the crop issue after speaking with MPC, and gave it back right away (pulled it at midnight, gave back at 6 am). I've been dipping her beak every time I go in and trying to offer her food that's more crumbled up in order to help her get more stuff in her.

 

[Eggcessive]

Make sure that she is pooping, and check for pasty butt. I would also get some Poultry NutriDrench or Poultry Cell at your feed store, and give her two drops daily for a few days. Those are good electrolyte, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids to help perk up a weak chick.

 

[Alexdailey]

Make sure that she is pooping, and check for pasty butt. I would also get some Poultry NutriDrench or Poultry Cell at your feed store, and give her two drops daily for a few days. Those are good electrolyte, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids to help perk up a weak chick.

Will they be fine for all the chicks to have? They are all in the same thing and I don't want her to be alone (she gets upset when separated from the glock).

She is pooping fairly normal - no pasty butt for her or any of the chicks. Should I offer the chick grit and see if that will help or will it make things worse?

 

[Alexdailey]

Update - she seems to be doing a bit better. We've been giving the oil, added grit after a few days, and been giving her the nutra drench by mouth, and added it the water along with massaging the crop and dipping her beak every time I go in to encourage her to drink more.



We also separated her out from the other chicks and got her four bantam friends for company who are also smaller than her so she isn't being stepped on or knocked over.



She seemed much steadier this morning, and was eating with the group. I can still feel something hard in her crop when I massage it, not sure what else to do but keep working on it. Attached an updated photo for you all.



Lynette

 

[uranni31]

Update - she seems to be doing a bit better. We've been giving the oil, added grit after a few days, and been giving her the nutra drench by mouth, and added it the water along with massaging the crop and dipping her beak every time I go in to encourage her to drink more.



We also separated her out from the other chicks and got her four bantam friends for company who are also smaller than her so she isn't being stepped on or knocked over.



She seemed much steadier this morning, and was eating with the group. I can still feel something hard in her crop when I massage it, not sure what else to do but keep working on it. Attached an updated photo for you all.



Lynette

How is she doing? I have a 1 and /2 week old chick that has the same issue. Huge crop in the evenings and a smaller crop in the mornings but a little ball still there . Any advice would help. Thanks

 

[Alexdailey]

How is she doing? I have a 1 and /2 week old chick that has the same issue. Huge crop in the evenings and a smaller crop in the mornings but a little ball still there . Any advice would help. Thanks

She is still holding her own - her wings have feathered in more and she is a bit more adventurous, but does like to stay under the brooder even though she feels of an adequate weight. I will have to get an updated photo comparing her and one of the same chicks from the group she came with. They are huge compared to her. She does love her bantam buddies, and the biggest one has taken her under it's wing so to speak. I put in some fresh veggies this morning and it took a beakful under the brooder to Nugget (we named her lol) and fed it to her.

We had some success with giving olive oil (a drop or two) a few times a day and then gently massaging her crop about 15 minutes later. We also provided some chick grit to her and have her nutra drench in the water and a small drop directly by mouth a few times. I think what has helped a lot is the massaging of the crop and trying to make sure she stays supplemented. Also if the other chicks it is with get too big - separate the chick out and get it a few bantam friends who will be smaller than it. She also seemed to eat more if we put small piles of food on the ground for her.

I hope your chick makes it. You may need to monitor her closely but it is worth it to see her grow. I may also try some chick gro-gel to see if it gives her more of a boost, and if that helps I will let you know.

The hatchery told me I can also try mixing plain yogurt with feed or scrambling an egg and offering that for a nutrition boost.

Lynette (and Nugget with her sidekicks Bandito, Tito, and Frito - blame my husband for those names, lol)

 

[uranni31]

She is still holding her own - her wings have feathered in more and she is a bit more adventurous, but does like to stay under the brooder even though she feels of an adequate weight. I will have to get an updated photo comparing her and one of the same chicks from the group she came with. They are huge compared to her. She does love her bantam buddies, and the biggest one has taken her under it's wing so to speak. I put in some fresh veggies this morning and it took a beakful under the brooder to Nugget (we named her lol) and fed it to her.

We had some success with giving olive oil (a drop or two) a few times a day and then gently massaging her crop about 15 minutes later. We also provided some chick grit to her and have her nutra drench in the water and a small drop directly by mouth a few times. I think what has helped a lot is the massaging of the crop and trying to make sure she stays supplemented. Also if the other chicks it is with get too big - separate the chick out and get it a few bantam friends who will be smaller than it. She also seemed to eat more if we put small piles of food on the ground for her.

I hope your chick makes it. You may need to monitor her closely but it is worth it to see her grow. I may also try some chick gro-gel to see if it gives her more of a boost, and if that helps I will let you know.

The hatchery told me I can also try mixing plain yogurt with feed or scrambling an egg and offering that for a nutrition boost.

Lynette (and Nugget with her sidekicks Bandito, Tito, and Frito - blame my husband for those names, lol)

So good to know she is doing better. Fortunately, our chick is still eating and is a good size. I just noticed that at nights when we go to do the last cleaning; her crop is a lot bigger than the others. So I decided to check everyone's crop in the morning (hers) and noticed that hers was the only one where you could feel something there. It is a lot smaller than in the evening but something is still there. I might separate her with a few friends and put grit in her food and also try the oil/massages and /or yogurt. Thank you for your response.

 

[Alexdailey]

You are welcome - a side note with the grit - the hatchery said to offer it in a separate dish and not to mix it with the food so she wouldn't eat too much of it when eating the food, and to make sure you use chick grit.

Glad to hear your chick is a good size, Nugget being smaller was our indicator and by then she was behind in size and is playing catch up. Hoping the info helps!

So good to know she is doing better. Fortunately, our chick is still eating and is a good size. I just noticed that at nights when we go to do the last cleaning; her crop is a lot bigger than the others. So I decided to check everyone's crop in the morning (hers) and noticed that hers was the only one where you could feel something there. It is a lot smaller than in the evening but something is still there. I might separate her with a few friends and put grit in her food and also try the oil/massages and /or yogurt. Thank you for your response.