Bloated chick

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waddles99

waddles99

Songster
8 Years
Jun 22, 2013
1,477
117
216
NJ
Help, my 5 week old Wyandotte seems bloated. She has big bubble like sacs over her body. It's not really her crop so much as her sides and belly. Please help!
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It appears that she has a leaking air sac, also called subcutaneous emphysema. Does she have labored breathing? I had a chick with that after she was injured, and I used a needle inserted under the skin and then pushed the air out. It may take more than one stick in different spots. After the air is pushed out, hold pressure over the needle site. An 18 gauge needle is best, but I used a smaller 22 gauge needle because that was all I had. The air can re-appear, and it may have to be repeated. Let us know what happens. If you want to read about this, Google "leaking air sac in a chicken."
 
Eggcessive said:
It appears that she has a leaking air sac, also called subcutaneous emphysema. Does she have labored breathing? I had a chick with that after she was injured, and I used a needle inserted under the skin and then pushed the air out. It may take more than one stick in different spots. After the air is pushed out, hold pressure over the needle site. An 18 gauge needle is best, but I used a smaller 22 gauge needle because that was all I had. The air can re-appear, and it may have to be repeated. Let us know what happens. If you want to read about this, Google "leaking air sac in a chicken."
Click to expand...

Thanks for your response. Her breathing seems normal, everything about her is normal except for the air sacs. She is eating and drinking, appears alert and aware of her surroundings, and is active. I had heard of popping the air sacs, but I didn't want to cause an infection. Should I use some kind of medicine on her to prevent any infection? Her brooder is relatively clean, and is indoors, but I wouldn't want to take any chances.
 
Do you hear any clicking when she breathes? Mine had that, and she was gasping. Since yours is not in any distress, you can watch her. If you decide to puncture her, use a sterile 18 gauge needle, clean her skin with iodine or alcohol, and afterward, apply some antibiotic ointment to the site.
 
Thank you so much for the link. She has no clicking breathing or trouble breathing. So you think I should not pop any of the bubbles since she seems otherwise normal? I don't want to make anything worse, but I don't want her condition to get worse, either. I'm not a vet by any means, and I wouldn't want to hurt her. But I don't want to have her be suffering if there is something I could do about it.
 

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