Chick with Impacted crop???

[di]

Sorry...nowt seems to be going right for us!

So,we got a little week old friend for Boo.Has been really quiet since we got it,not jumping about like Boo.Sleeping most of the time & when not sleeping really dopey.Initially we thought it was due to the change in environment,but no improvements & tonight I noticed a rather large lump on it's right breast.Do week olds get impacted crop?Or is it something else?
We have a horrible feeling that Boo Two may by the morning be Boo Hoo,has anyone come across this in a young chick?Is there anything we can do or should we put it out of it's suffering?

[bluemoon]

Sorry, I haven't a clue as I've never had chicks, but I'm thinking of him and really hope he pulls through.

[RedThorn]

and any news? Fingers crossed and hoping that it's ok this morning.....

[RichmondHens]

I've not come across impaction in a chick before. I assume they are on chick crumb so no excuse for impaction really. Is it drinking enough? Poos ok? Have you tried massaging the crop to see if the lump is indeed a full crop? It might be worth contacting the previous owner to see if she has a problem with any of the others.

Sorry about your run of bad luck.

[frias]

My chicks certainly go to bed with a full crop, which is more than can be said for their mum as she gives every tasty morsel she finds to them. Even huge worms.
How is the patient this morning? If it still has a full crop then something must be wrong. I'm really sorry you are getting so many visits from the s**t fairy at the moment.

[di]

Thanks!
They are only on chick crumb & this one was also hatched in an incubator & never been outside.
When it drinks it seems to have a slight problem getting it down...where they normally tilt their heads & jobs done,this one takes alittle longer,almost as if there's an obstruction.
I feel a bit stupid that I didn't give it a proper check over when we got it.Just checked it could stand,it's feet were OK & that it was alert.Didn't even think to check for lumps,but I'm sure it wasn't there when we got it home.Also assumed the quietness was down to being unsettled.
It's poos are fine,but it's eyes are really not healthy looking.
I've actually just taken it out from with Boo & popped in it's own box.Not looking good.It's just finished drinking & actually having trouble to keep it down.Boo is showing what a caring chick (s)he is by jumping on it & pecking at it!
Think we may have a not so pleasant job to do!
I'll get Andi to call the chap we got it from,maybe it's a birth defect or something to do with the cross?(he thinks Brahma/Orpington)

[RichmondHens]

Oh dear, I'm sorry to hear that. Does sound like an obstruction of some sort. Maybe Boo will have to grow up on her own after all - and be very very tame!!!!

[Bramble-Poultry]

Poor little mite - sounds bad Di sorry, does sound more like a defect than an illness - if he went to bed with a full crop by the morning it should be empty.

HUGS

[di]

Thankyou all for your support...I dreaded posting yet another problem,promise I don't go out searching for them!

Well,can't say it looks great but after a really good drink the lump has gone down a little & I've put it back in with Boo.
Although it seems a little happier,still not a bouncing chick.
We're out at friends this arvo...thankfully Boo has company again or I may have had to find a little bumbag/pouch!
We'll see how things are later when we get back.Earlier this morning I felt cruel watching it suffer,but it doesn't seem as poorly now.We will though keep it in our heads that it may be a defect & non curable.
Thanks!x

[kirsty b]

Here's hoping things turn out ok for you.

[di]

Just a quick update.
We took the poorly chick back & have another little friend for Boo.(hopefully not poorly this time!)
The lump would sometimes go down a bit,although never fully.So I think it was a problem with it's crop.But it continued to be very listless & hobbled about with it's legs wide open.
We decided that we couldn't carry on with it,partly as it seemed to be suffering,but also didn't feel we were experienced enough to be nursing a poorly chick.We also agreed that if it was having problems at such a young age,would those problems miraculously go away or be with it for life.
Boo seems content with her new mate...they're laid sprawled under their lamp sleeping as I type!Initially she didn't seem interested & was cheeping at me to let her out for a play,but we've left them for the evening to get used to each other & dare I say it()...things are looking good!

[Bramble-Poultry]

Di - thats good news boo has a friend, sorry about the other chick though.

[lizzylemon]

What have you done to attract so many sh*t fairies!! Don't worry they'll get knackered soon - flying from yours to mine and back on regular basis must tire them eventually.

Anywho, sounds like you did the right thing. Chick with lump is never going to be a healthy hen if it ever gets that far to begin with. No one needs to experience the stress and pain of trying to raise a poorly chick, especially not you guys for sure. XX

I agree with RH - doesn't make sense being an impacted crop at such a young age as it wouldn't (shouldn't) have come into contact with foodstuff to cause an blockage and the only other thing that sprung to mind was Gape worm (it lives in the throats of chickens and hangs down the throat tube and makes the hen 'yawn' a lot and eventually leads to choking) but other than not being to swallow, the symptoms didn't tally up either.