Large crop on chick

[Ry123]

Hi everyone I came on here to ask if this large of a crop on a chick is Normal. She has had it from last night after eating and still has it this morning. Is this something I should be concerned about or something I should just wait out? Overall she is acting fine her poop is normal the only thing is her crop. And this is the first day with me, when I got her, her crop was flat This is her:

Her crop feels like feed and can be shaped when you message it.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

How are you brooding the chicks, do they have a light on all night?

I'd monitor the crop, see if it's going down.

You're providing chick grit too right?

 

[Ry123]

How are you brooding the chicks, do they have a light on all night?

I'd monitor the crop, see if it's going down.

You're providing chick grit too right?

Yes light on all night and day and have chick grit. Her crop is going down but is still full. Should I still give her food or let the crop flatten?

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Yes light on all night and day and have chick grit. Her crop is going down but is still full. Should I still give her food or let the crop flatten?

The light being on 24/7 will throw off their circadian rhythm. This is fine when they are chicks, but it also means that they do not have consistent sleeping or waking cycles signaled by daylight like adult chickens do. This will result in chicks having full crops at times when you normally would expect an empty crop such as first in the morning. They often will be awake during our nights eating as if it was daytime. As long as the crop goes down at times and the chick is behaving normally they are fine.

 

[Ry123]

The light being on 24/7 will throw off their circadian rhythm. This is fine when they are chicks, but it also means that they do not have consistent sleeping or waking cycles signaled by daylight like adult chickens do. This will result in chicks having full crops at times when you normally would expect an empty crop such as first in the morning. They often will be awake during our nights eating as if it was daytime. As long as the crop goes down at times and the chick is behaving normally they are fine.

When should I turn off their light?

 

[StinkyAcres]

When should I turn off their light?

What kind of light? Does the light also provide the heat?

 

[Ry123]

What kind of light? Does the light also provide the heat?

Yes the light provides the heat as well

 

[StinkyAcres]

Yes the light provides the heat as well

Then you cannot turn it off at night. Usually red lights are used for chicks as it's less disruptive to their sleep cycle (supposedly).

 

[Ry123]

Then you cannot turn it off at night. Usually red lights are used for chicks as it's less disruptive to their sleep cycle (supposedly).

Okay thank you for letting me know! Should I still provide her with food or wait till her crop flattens?

 

[HollowOfWisps]

When should I turn off their light?

Keep the light on 24/7 until they are fully feathered. However, if you are brooding inside your home you may need to turn it off before 4 weeks if they are showing signs of overheating. Signs of overheating would be your chicks all huddled/piling in the furthest corners away from the heat, panting or cheeping non-stop as if in distress. As for keeping or taking away food, leave the food in there. The varying crop sizes when they have a constant light source is normal because they will also be eating at night with the light on. Again that is normal if they have a light on at all times and chicks should have access to food 24/7 even if they have the light on. Since they will not always have emptied crops in the morning and will have full crops at different times the signs of a crop blockage to look for are acting lethargic, not eating or drinking.