Chick Issues

Chick issues. Sounds a little like a conversation one might have with a teenage boy, doesn’t it? I wish that were the case. The boy might think the subject was a complicated one, but usually these issues pass, and things can be made right again most of the time. The chick that I am referring to is my Ameraucana Chicken, Betsy. She is a beautiful girl who does not resemble many people’s idea of what a chicken should look like. In my opinion, she looks more like a hawk. Here is a recent photo of her.

A couple of months ago, as I was watching Betsy and her sister chicks running around their chicken coop enjoying the warmth and the sunshine, I noticed a yellowish liquid dripping from her beak. This is never a good thing in a chicken, especially since chickens cannot throw up. I realized that this was a sign that something was very wrong. Over the next few days, I kept a careful eye on her and noticed this happening again and again. I determined that she had something called “sour crop.” I tried a few home remedies to no avail. First, without belaboring it, let me explain briefly what a crop is and its function. The crop is located on the front of, and just to the right of the chicken’s chest (clearly shown in the title photo above). Imagine it as an empty balloon if you will. When the chicken eats, the food goes directly into the crop as a sort of “food holding area.” This is because chickens, like most birds with crops, collect their food quickly and on the run, usually to avoid predators. Then, throughout the day, that food will move from the crop through her and she will digest it. If there is a blockage and the bird overeats, or if that particular chicken is anatomically predisposed to having a larger or sagging crop, food will collect in there with nowhere to go and begin to ferment. An overly full crop like this can feel like a large water balloon. In a normal chicken, the crop will expand somewhat as they collect food throughout the day, and the next morning it will be flat again, ready to start the day anew. This was not the case with Betsy.

We took her to a local vet where they examined her and pulled some fluid from her crop. I was shocked when they told me that she had a “pendulous crop” which is more serious than a sour crop, and that her body condition was poor, and that she was slowly starving. She has always been the largest chick, so it was impossible to see this under all her feathers. They told me to take her home, give her soft food, and massage her crop several times a day to try and get nutrients through her, and, if this problem cannot be remedied, they can humanely assist if need be and euthanize her. So, this is where I am now, massaging her crop two to three times a day for thirty to forty-five minutes each time, and feeding her soft, high-calorie food, like human baby food or cat food pâté, mixed in with her pellets to soften them. She is currently comfortable in the temporary "chick hospital" I set up for her in our garage. It looks like she is loving all the attention though, and completely enjoying herself. I hope so since she is such a sweet chick. Betsy is only five months old and has not even produced her first egg yet, so I will do my best to give her every chance.

It has been about one week now since that vet visit. She does not appear to be in any pain, and I can tell when I hold her on my lap that she is slowly putting on weight. Additionally, her crop has gone down considerably but still sags a bit. If she rallies, I am hopeful to reintroduce her to her sister chicks in the chicken coop in the next few weeks. This will not be an easy transition for them, especially for Betsy! The other chicks will not be very welcoming and will most likely try to beat up on her. Unfortunately, this is all about the "pecking order." If a chick is away from the others for even a day, they quickly figure out who the next “top chick” is. When you put a chicken back in with a flock after some time away, it's like they are saying "Wait a minute! We just figured this out and now she’s back!!" Then they fight it out to establish the pecking order again. Such is the life of a chicken. Betsy can more than defend herself but only if she is healthy again. She probably will not like going back to the coop again after being so spoiled, but that is best for her. I am hoping it works in her favor and that she will once again rule the roost. Here is a photo of Betsy (top left), with the mug shots of her five sister chicks.

It seems that there is always some new challenge when taking care of the animals in our crew, but this was what we signed up for. It is a labor of love and a constant and humbling learning experience. I hope to be able to update you soon that Betsy is doing well on the road to recovery, and that she has made a triumphant reunion with the others.

Until next time . . .

K.