2 Wk Old Chick - Impacted Crop

[Goober9]

Hello BYC,
I have a 2 week old chickie who I'm certain has an impacted crop. She consistently has a lump on the right side of her chest area that her 3 other sisters do not. When I message the lump, I can feel the feed within and am able to gently work it into her gizzard. I'm doing this 2 times a day to make sure she's actually digesting the food she's eating. I'm not sure what caused the impacted crop. The bedding in the brooder is pine shavings. Perhaps she ate some bedding. Her vent is clear, she's acting, eating and drinking normally, like her sisters. I have not offered them any chick grit since all they currently eat is Chick Start Feed (see pic) which has a near flour like consistency.

Is she too young to give small bits of coconut oil to? How much should I offer? Will she eventually grow out of this?

Thanks BYC!

 

[nuthatched]

Is it empty first thing in the morning? Is she pooping?

 

[Goober9]

She's pooping and drinking normally. The corp is not empty first thing in the morning. However, the flock has access to food 24/7 since they are still only 2 wks old. Thoughts? Should I separate her for a few hours (with access to water but not food) to see if it goes down?

 

[Chicken_Obsesser]

I had a chick a little younger than this with impacted crop, we gave him small amounts of coconut oil and gave him 10 second massages about 5 times a day. Eventually he got better, so I'd say continue along that path.

 

[Goober9]

thanks for the advice!

 

[nuthatched]

She's pooping and drinking normally. The corp is not empty first thing in the morning. However, the flock has access to food 24/7 since they are still only 2 wks old. Thoughts? Should I separate her for a few hours (with access to water but not food) to see if it goes down?

If she's pooping normally, she's not impacted. Seperate her overnight to check.

 

[Chicken_Obsesser]

Of course! Good luck with your chick!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have a 2 week old chickie who I'm certain has an impacted crop. She consistently has a lump on the right side of her chest area that her 3 other sisters do not. When I message the lump, I can feel the feed within and am able to gently work it into her gizzard. I'm doing this 2 times a day to make sure she's actually digesting the food she's eating. I'm not sure what caused the impacted crop. The bedding in the brooder is pine shavings. Perhaps she ate some bedding. Her vent is clear, she's acting, eating and drinking normally, like her sisters. I have not offered them any chick grit since all they currently eat is Chick Start Feed

Is she too young to give small bits of coconut oil to? How much should I offer? Will she eventually grow out of this?

She's pooping and drinking normally. The corp is not empty first thing in the morning. However, the flock has access to food 24/7 since they are still only 2 wks old. Thoughts? Should I separate her for a few hours (with access to water but not food) to see if it goes down?

I would provide Chick Grit (Crushed Granite) free choice even if you are only feeding Chick Starter. Chicks will eat bedding or anything else they find. I provide Grit at hatch, chicks will take a few pieces almost immediately. Only sprinkle a small amount in the brooder or a little cup, some are not too smart (just yet) and may eat a lot of grit, then there's another issue.

Are you using a lamp for brooding? It's often hard to gauge crop problems in young chicks if they have light all the time and eat 24/7.
If the crop is getting hard and the massage is helping, it shouldn't hurt anything but you may want to withhold food/water for a couple of hours just to see if the crop begins to empty on it's own.
Some chicks are little piggies and seem to just fill up all the time, nothing wrong with that as long as the crop is going down, she's active and pooping.

It will not hurt her to give a few small pieces of coconut oil a couple of times a day for a few days, it may make the poop a little more loose. I like to put the oil in the fridge or freezer, hard it up a bit and just let the chick(en) pick the pieces up and eat them.