Week old chick impacted crop

[starchicky]

I'm thinking my week old chick may have impacted crop. It is very full and large and she has pretty much no mass around her keel. I've had them for 4 days, on medicated starter. There is nothing hard I can feel in the crop. Otherwise she is acting normal. She still wants to eat more, so I have seperated her to see if it empties overnight and watch her poops. I have seen her have normal droppings before so hopefully I noticed it early. I was able to give her a couple bits of coconut oil, not very easy since she is so tiny still. I have massaged her crop some, it sometimes sounds a bit gurgly. I'm assuming it was the bedding and changed it for paper towel. Previously I used shredded paper and I think that worked better since the pieces are to big to eat. Any other ideas are great. How often do they poop normally? She had one about 15 mins ago that was normal looking. Would you try assits vomiting with a chick this small? I have done it with my hens before.

 

[getaclue]

I'd wait until morning to see if the crop empties overnight. Get some grit for chicks (it comes in different sizes) and let it eat some of the grit. Don't overdo it on the grit. I would not vomit the chick because of its size. In case it did eat a piece of paper towel, with water, and grit, it should break up fairly quickly. Put vitamins in the water, in case it's not able to digest food until the crop clears. That way it will still get nutrients.

 

[Boonie Stomper]

No please dont try that you could kill it. Have you got other chicks to compare with? Also at this age they will try to eat anything so shredded paper or even paper towel or even stringy material can get ingested. Layers of old paper (thicker) that can be removed is less likely to be eaten. You may add a pinch of sand to her feed as tiny grit to help break up any wads in the crop and some ACV to keep down yeast growth if crop still not emptying tomorrow. Light massage only if needed and withold high starch food until clog clears. You can offer cooked eggs though .
This is based on personal experience only and is not to be construed as professional medical advice.

 

[starchicky]

Her crop is not empty overnight. I tried giving her a bit more coconut oil. She has water with acv, which they've had so hopefully that will help. Otherwise she is still acting normal and she is still pooping. Not sure if I can find my chick grit or sand before heading to work. I would say this morning I could maybe feel something more solid than food in her crop, likely bedding.

 

[getaclue]

If the bedding was paper towel, it needs grit to help break it up, while it is still trying to eat.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would not use sand, but only chick grit. Some chicks may eat sand, causing more crop problems. I am not certain that you have a problem here, but maybe just a good eater. If it is alert, eating and drinking, that sounds normal. Very young chicks eat 24 hours a day, and the crops do not empty overnight, unless they are kept in the dark at night. If the crop is soft and full, it probably is not impacted. Also, an impacted crop would cause the chick to become lethargic, not be able to eat, and may have problems pooping. The best thing for crop problems in a chick is to provide plenty of water and massage the crop. Food luck.

 

[starchicky]

Her crop emptied today! I don't feel anything in there now, so maybe coconut oil and water did the trick! I did get chick grit to give them as well. Thanks everyone!

 

[getaclue]

Keep them on chick starter, and I wouldn't use paper towels as bedding anymore.