hey guys atm i'm currently hand rearing two chicks from hatching (not by choice) they're 6 and 4 days old now but one (4days old) keeps swallowing air into his crop.... it's not a small amount when he's being fed it's more a whole crop full that he inflates by himself whenever there is room for it... is it bad for the bub? i remove the air ever time i catch it with it and have tried all different things to stop it ( thickening food, thinning food, lying him on his back, lying him on his front) any info would appreciated thanks

libby

Try a drop or two of either pineapple juice or pure raspberry cordial ( not the fake red cordial ) in his feed mix.

Maybe you should check him out a bit more. He may have something going on with his larynx and pharynx, causing either the esophagus or the trachea not to close properly after or during feeding or there could be a hole between the two allowing air to get into the crop. This can be dangerous as food can get into the lungs and cause the baby to catch pneumonia. Either that or he is a very gassy baby and doesn't know how to swallow food properly. Perhaps just check him over properly and assess his general demeanor.

he's totally fine exactly like the other baby except if his crop isnt full to the brim he'll inflate himself like a balloon haha maybe it a new age emotional blackmail for the parents to feed it haha god knows but either way he's healthy weight and appetite so i have nfi :S

That's good then, he's just being a little brat hehehe.