update: 1 wk old chick- swollen crop

[mamaem]

I might just drop a little oil on the tip of the beak and let her gobble it when it rolls around to her mouth. Or put some in a dish and let her get a drink. I don't know if it will help to add it to the feed. I've never had to do it yet. But since she is active, I wouldn't be trying to syringe anything.

And even though people say olive oil... to me oil is oil...

I don't know that you need to try, I was just mentioning it... in case.

As long as she isn't suffering, I would continue to do my best for her.

I think losing pets when you are young helps to learn how to accept death a little easier when someone you really care about passes later in life. That's what I tell myself anyways, cause it sure doesn't seem to make it any easier.

What a good perspective on animal death with children. Thanks for that. Yes, I'll continue to do what I can for her, although I've explained to the kids that, at least in our family, chicks (and ducks) are in a different category than our dog for example ... so, no vets, surgery or expensive treatments, but *I* will do what I can. It's a tricky balance to maintain, isn't it.

Thanks, all, for your perspectives. Just for future thread-searchers, I will add another post if/when anything significant changes for her.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

What a good perspective on animal death with children. Thanks for that. Yes, I'll continue to do what I can for her, although I've explained to the kids that, at least in our family, chicks (and ducks) are in a different category than our dog for example ... so, no vets, surgery or expensive treatments, but *I* will do what I can. It's a tricky balance to maintain, isn't it.

Thanks, all, for your perspectives. Just for future thread-searchers, I will add another post if/when anything significant changes for her.

Same here, we take dogs to the vet as needed... but we are our own vet for the goats and fowl. BYC is a huge help on all things animal, really!

And they wanted to biopsy one of my dogs for several hundreds of $ but since I wouldn't be able to afford treatment or travel like 6 hours each way... plus I would never put my dogs through chemo, being sick all the time isn't living... I opted not to have it done and I didn't think it was cancer anyways. Knowing wouldn't benefit me. I already know our time with our animals and loved ones is far too short.

I will look forward to an update on your little struggling chick... Did you name it yet?

 

[Bocktobery 10]

..........

I think losing pets when you are young helps to learn how to accept death a little easier when someone you really care about passes later in life. That's what I tell myself anyways, cause it sure doesn't seem to make it any easier.

No, it never does, does it? I am dealing with today, my upteenth dying chicken (she's dying from EYP and suffering greatly- might euthanize her today) and not only chickens but scores of other pets/animals too, and its always as difficult as the first. The only thing I feel I've succeeded in handling better is my ability to distract myself from their suffering... not really an accomplishment, I guess. I suppose if it makes me 'handle' the situation better, maybe its a good thing. I still feel rotten!

 

[Bocktobery 10]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/828000/subcutaneous-emphysema-pictures-added

Here is a thread started about what to do with air sac and chicks.. I will have to go back and look at your original post, as I'm not sure this fits the description of symptoms you said (I have read too many threads- get confused). I'm just posting this link here just in case.

Anyway, if the chick does not seem distressed, I wouldn't do anything to it. It could pull through just fine on its own. Many do, or so I've heard with this type of thing. I hope your chickie makes it! I'm not sure if the probiotic powder would do the trick, but its better than nothing! Yogurt would be good as well.... that's if its a crop problem that is caused by sour crop. I'm more convinced the problem is either a ruptured air sac or a blocked crop (by like a piece of bedding/paper towel- that sort of thing). Oil would be great for the latter, along with very gentle massaging of the crop area (no squeezing- maybe just lightly rub the area with a fingertip)

Please let us know what happened. (A concluded thread is a great and useful thread to all, even if things turned out for the worst- the people reading it would like to know how things turned out!)

Best wishes to you and yours!

 

[Bocktobery 10]

Check out post #5 on the thread I linked in my last post.... You described a crsipy sound when you touch the swollen area- I think your chick has subcutaneous emphysema.


Found this also (which might help alleviate any fears of your chick dying- bolded empahsis mine)

"Subcutaneous emphysema is a common presentation affecting avian species. This condition occurs when tissue overlying an air sac is compromised and allows for direct communication to the subcutaneous space. Although not life-threatening in most cases, it can cause discomfort to the avian patient and affect the bird’s quality of life, immune status, and, in the case of wildlife, to prevent disease. A Teflon stent has been advocated as a means to reduce the buildup of air under the skin of chronic avian subcutaneous emphysema cases. In the case presented here, a Teflon stent was used as a temporary treatment modality until the underlying muscle layers healed. One month after placement, the stent was removed. The bird recovered with no evidence of subcutaneous emphysema and was eventually released."

From http://www.exoticpetmedicine.com/article/S1557-5063(06)00016-4/pdf

 

[EggSighted4Life]

No, it never does, does it? I am dealing with today, my upteenth dying chicken (she's dying from EYP and suffering greatly- might euthanize her today) and not only chickens but scores of other pets/animals too, and its always as difficult as the first. The only thing I feel I've succeeded in handling better is my ability to distract myself from their suffering... not really an accomplishment, I guess. I suppose if it makes me 'handle' the situation better, maybe its a good thing. I still feel rotten!

We all have to use the coping skills we have. Some work better than others.

I am very sorry for your ailing chicken.

I have not dealt with health issues yet. But I know I will some day.

Thank you for sharing that link. It was very interesting and informational!

 

[mamaem]

No, it never does, does it? I am dealing with today, my upteenth dying chicken (she's dying from EYP and suffering greatly- might euthanize her today) and not only chickens but scores of other pets/animals too, and its always as difficult as the first. The only thing I feel I've succeeded in handling better is my ability to distract myself from their suffering... not really an accomplishment, I guess. I suppose if it makes me 'handle' the situation better, maybe its a good thing. I still feel rotten!

Sorry to hear what you're struggling with; thank you for sharing it. Hearing how many deaths you experienced chicken-keepers have dealt with is a good reminder to me to try to be prepared for the sad eventuality that goes hand-in-hand with animal raising.

An update on that little chick with the swollen crop: Last night, before I took the food away for the night, the crop was as bulging as ever (nearly the size of a small egg!). But, this morning, for the first time, it was really almost completely gone! So, I'm no longer worried that there's some non-food thing in there, causing a blockage. I wonder if all the excessive swelling early on has made her crop more stretchable? At any rate, in case future searchers find this thread, I feel pretty good that we got through the problem by doing nothing more than lots of grit, taking food away at night, and occasional massaging. I never got around to trying to feed her oil.

Now to start a new thread about how to introduce these baby chicks to our 1-year-old ducks!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Sorry to hear what you're struggling with; thank you for sharing it. Hearing how many deaths you experienced chicken-keepers have dealt with is a good reminder to me to try to be prepared for the sad eventuality that goes hand-in-hand with animal raising.

An update on that little chick with the swollen crop: Last night, before I took the food away for the night, the crop was as bulging as ever (nearly the size of a small egg!). But, this morning, for the first time, it was really almost completely gone! So, I'm no longer worried that there's some non-food thing in there, causing a blockage. I wonder if all the excessive swelling early on has made her crop more stretchable? At any rate, in case future searchers find this thread, I feel pretty good that we got through the problem by doing nothing more than lots of grit, taking food away at night, and occasional massaging. I never got around to trying to feed her oil.

Now to start a new thread about how to introduce these baby chicks to our 1-year-old ducks!

Glad to hear she is doing even better!

I'm new to ducks... but imagine the same pecking order exists. I would try the look but don't touch method as we do for chickens.