Really Worried about 3 week old chicks, please help.

[Munch]

All 6 of my chicks have a really large crop (some larger than others) and a couple slightly swollen bum!

They had a large crop this morning and its much the same if not bigger now. They are still active but they are also still hungry.

Am I worrying unnecessarily?

Please help. I dont want to loose them.

[RichmondHens]

How are you raising them? With hen or in a brooder? If you have them in a brooder and they have access to feed 24/7 then they will feed round the clock unless you have an electric hen type heater which doesn't emit light so they go to sleep naturally when dark. Also do they appear unwell or is it just that you have noticed the crops looking full? And I'm not sure what you mean about swollen bum - the actual vent? Is the poo normal or runny? If they are with a hen are they on clean ground and not running around with all the other chickens? Young chicks cannot always deal with the amount of parasites and bacteria that exist within a run in use by other chickens and have to develop immunity over time which is why it is better to site broody coops/runs on clean ground till they are older and more resistant.

[Snadger]

Can't say I've ever come across this before? Mine are about six weeks old and are going to the lotttie tomorrow as OH is sick of them in the house!

They are on chick crumb only aren't they?

[Scarlet]

If they are in a brooder, what have you got on the floor ? Often if you put shavings down too early they will eat it and this can cause crop problems. Can you post a pic of their bums?

[RichmondHens]

Can't say I've ever come across this before? Mine are about six weeks old and are going to the lotttie tomorrow as OH is sick of them in the house!

They are on chick crumb only aren't they?

Six weeks old in the house!!! Your poor OH!

[petal]

Oh the smell, imagine it!!!!!!!

[Glutton4...]

Six weeks old in the house!!! Your poor OH!

I had a friend who did this - put them in their downstairs shower cubicle, thinking they would be fine. Soon went out and constructed another coop when they realised how much they pong!

[Munch]

Hi, Sorry been manic!

Ok..... The chicks are in and brooder cage in the basement under electric hen type lamp (brinsea eco) that gives no light. The basement light is on during the day and switched off at night. They are only fed on chick crumb and have constant supply of water. Their bedding is shavings, the chunky stuff used for horse bedding, on newspaper however they soon kick out the shavings and tare up the paper!

Their poo is normal and they are all still active and flighty. To be honest the swollen bum thing may have been me panicking, it might just be where they are putting on weight between their legs.

I took a couple of pictures yesterday afternoon to show you. I picked up one of them and it was so swollen that the skin was thin and you could see fluid inside (although all crops are soft) I did not give them any more food after this picture to see if the swelling would subside.



This morning......... They look normal.

I am hoping that I am being paranoid and my chicks are pigs! (well they are for the freezer!)

Thank you for your advice xx

[RichmondHens]

What sort are they? Some sort of meat hybrid if you say they are for meat? They are well feathered for 3 week olds. They look normal to me and my guess is that if they are fast growing meat hybrids then you will see the pounds pile on very quickly.

My one concern would be about the bedding. Can you not put them on something that they can't tear up and (possibly) eat? Young chicks will eat shavings and newspaper and it will bung their crops up. Does the brooder cage have a floor? I would suggest putting a layer of sand in instead, or just sheets of cardboard which are not so easy to tear up and can be changed twice daily.

[Munch]

They are Light Sussex, apart from one mystery egg/chick! (possible speckled sussex)

The floor of the cage is wire so I have covered it with cardboard then a layer of paper. Maybe I should just leave it as cardboard then, just thought it wouldn't be warm enough for them.

[motherhen]

They look good to me, are they Light Sussex? or as RH says are they a meat hybrid, but I thought the end of the wings look as if they have black feathers!
If their dropping are OK then I wouldn't worry to much.

[Munch]

Thank you x