Pic update HELP! 2 week old chick with crop trouble

[Leavingegypt]

Pretty new to chickens. This is just my 2nd batch. My first came from TSC and I had no problems, this bunch hatched by a friend has been a roller coaster. The lastest "dip" is that I checked on the chicks in the brooder and one had a VERY large bump on it's chest. It looks like a duck. After brief research here, I see that the trouble is it's crop. Treatment was to let it resolve it's self over night. Well we are now almost 24 hrs later and it's still just as big. I caught the little booger (did I mention this group is flighty as all get out), and began to massage it's crop. It settled down fairly quickly and allowed it- so no pain. The crop feels pretty soft, yet grainy (I assume that is food). Is there anything I should be doing for the chick. Meds, exercises, therapy- for the chick? For me?

 

[CMV]

A glass of wine for you, and some olive oil soaked bread for the chick. Some chicks have the terrible habit of eating their bedding/shavings. This can kill them from an impacted crop. Try the bread and massage and let us know how he is tomorrow. His crop should go down overnight. If not, more olive oil soaked bread and massage. Keep on it so it breaks down and can be moved through the system; otherwise...

Enjoy the wine.

 

[Leavingegypt]

duckie is doing much better today. Crop is about down to normal size with just a few grains left. He has been without food for almost 24 hours, so gave him some yogurt and he gobbled it up. How long should I limit his feeder intake? He misses his buddies and I sort of miss my sleep

 

[CMV]

I wouldn't limit his intake. He needs to eat in order to grow, but I would be watching what he is eating. If you note he is eating non-food items then that needs to be stopped. Otherwise, just let him be. His food should not cause any crop impaction/problems unless there is some underlying issue.

Good luck.

 

[Leavingegypt]

Welll duckie went back into the main population and once again his crop swelled. Waited overnight in case he had just gorged because of his spa diet of yogurt and ACV water. Nope, he is still swole up- worse now. Went to massage his crop as I do periodically and he threw up all over me.
The wammit was a combo of liquid and chick feed. His crop is filled with feed, I can feel it, but nothing else larger than that. Put him in hospital again with yogurt and a towel floor, just in case he wants a high fiber snack of pine again. Any other reccomendations?
His energy level is still close to normal and his poops, from what I have seen are pretty solid.

 

[CMV]

Doe he have sour crop? Is his crop squishy and blown up? Take a sniff of his breath and see what it smells like? If it is nasty he probably has sour crop and is going to need to be treated.

 

[Leavingegypt]

It's somewhat squishy, but I also feel food grains in there. This morning was the first time I got liquid/throw up from him. If it has gone to sour crop, what is the best course of action? When I massage his crop, it'll be pretty squishy and then there'll be resistance almost like he is puffing it up himself- not like I a hard resistance from a shaving particle, but sort of like when someone puffs out their cheeks. Then he lets it go.

 

[Leavingegypt]

Duckie in the "hospital"

A close-up of his swollen crop

OK- I'm at a loss. Duckie's crop is enlarged again and seems to become that way wheever he eats feed. It stays that way, unless I remove him from his brooder mates and feed him just yogurt and ACV water for 2 days. When I massage his crop he now throws up, but the smell is not sour- it's just yogurt. I can feel the grain in there, but no other obstructions. It feels like he has about a tablespoon of feed in there. I've laid a towel down to remove the whole pine chip thing. His poops are not liquidy, but maybe a little soft. His behavior is fairly normal to ****** off because he doesn't get to be with everyone else and he only gets yogurt. What else can I do? Can some chicks develop and inability to digest feed?

 

[CMV]

There is a condition called pendulous crop in which the musculature is weak. It is often as a result of long term crop issues that have damaged the muscles to such an extent that they are stretched. I do not know much about this condition, but a search through the archives may yield some info for you. I believe the... I hesitate to say treatment because it is not really a treatment so much as a palliative measure... is some sort of harness/sling for the crop to keep it in normal position to help the musculature to stop stretching, and to prevent stasis.