2 week old Pekin Duckling with swollen neck

[Dragonflye]

Ok so I have 3 - 2 week old Pekin Ducklings, a Drake and 2 hens. I ordered them though the local feed store and received them on Thursday, October 1. All 3 seemed to be in tip top shape. They all eat well and drink plenty. I give them a starter crumble that is 22% protein and is medicated... all natural medication, according to the feed store owner. At any rate, this issue started before they were switched over to the new food. I keep them in the house in a pen with a heat lamp as I have a mother hen occupying the nursery coop and yard with chicks at the moment and she is not fond of intruders... unless you come bearing raisins. I give them free reign in 15 minute intervals every few hours... they have full access to food and water at all times, and are allowed 10 minute supervised baths in my kitchen sink where they dive and splash and make a wonderful mess of my counter tops and floor.
Three days ago now as we were getting baths taken and getting ready to settle down for the night,I noticed what looked like a thinning spot on her neck. As they splashed and made their glorious mess on my kitchen counters and floors I noticed that the bigger of my 2 hens was sitting a little lower than normal in the water. The area of her back directly behind her neck was submerged where as the other 2 were floating with their entire backs out of he water. I let her go for a couple more minutes and let her swim and splash, keeping a close eye on her. As she turned from the back of the sink and dove under the water toward the front and me, I noticed that that thinning area on her neck was rather inflated and took her out to have a closer look. Upon closer inspection, I discovered that the area was indeed larger and apparently inflated. It was not any warmer than the rest of her body, no lumps, no fluid that I could see, and very transparent. I was able to see inside her neck. She did not object to my touching it at all and it does not seem to hurt her at all. I have done tons upon tons of searching on the topic and have read about everything from ruptured air sacs to tumors. Unfortunately to no avail. She does not seem to be in any kind of distress and we do not have an avian vet in my area. I have no idea what it might be or what to do about it. If anyone has any info on the issue I would be eternally grateful. I am attaching pictures in the hopes that someone will have seen or dealt with something similar and can help... Again, Thank you in advance for any help or advise you can offer on the matter.

 

[Orca5094]

I was going to say possible ruptured air sac, but since you've already researched that and it doesn't seem to be that, I am at a loss. Does the area feel squishy, like a big air bubble under the skin, or is it hard? Is she still eating and acting normally otherwise? Is it possible she was maybe stung by something?

 

[Dragonflye]

I suppose it is possible that it is a ruptured air sac. I'm not sure what it might be hence my worry. When she is swimming around or has gotten wet from her water tray it is actually very transparent... I can see some sort of small yellow something or other in her neck but it isn't isolated to the area where the bubble bulges out of her neck. As for the bubble it is squishy as if it is full of air... Similar to a balloon. She eats fine and drinks plenty... It does appear much better today but am still worried. :/

 

[Orca5094]

Ok, it sounds and looks like a ruptured air sac to me for sure. I've only had experience with this once and it was with a young Roseate Spoonbill. Unfortunately, that bird had to be humanely euthanized as it was in very bad shape. This doesn't look too bad at all on your duckling and I think he'll be ok. Ruptured air sacs can repair themselves over time, so I think you just have to wait it out. Some sites online suggest disinfecting the area and making a very small hole in the skin with a sterile needle where the air has gathered to let the air out. Now, I have never treated this myself and don't know if I'd do that if it were my duck, but that is what they say to do to alleviate some of the discomfort for the bird. It sounds like the right thing to do in theory, but honestly I would contact a vet before doing anything myself.

 

[casportpony]

I've seen this a few times... I'm not an expert, but I worry that the location of the air might put too much pressure on the crop, which could affect the duckling's ability to eat and drink properly.

Here is a thread I did when my peachick had it:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/828000/subcutaneous-emphysema-pictures-added

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

Get a baseline weight on the duckling and watch for weight loss or lack of weight gain. According to my charts, a healthy duckling should gain no less than 5% of it's weight per day.

-Kathy

 

[Dragonflye]

I did read somewhere that the needle under the skin was the way to treat this particular ailment however, not knowing for certain that was what it was well... I couldn't bring myself to just stick her in the neck without KNOWING and causing unnecessary discomfort. As for her weight, WOW! That seems like a lot to gain each day. She has not stopped eating at all... Or drinking for that matter and has managed to pass the other 2 up in size. She is very active and runs around whenever I turn them loose. Follows me around the house like a small fluffy puppy... I will keep a continued watch on her and update if there are any changes. Thank you all so much for all of the input and info... I am very new to this and have become very attached. Funny how they just crawl into your heart and take up roost so quickly.

 

[Dean321]

I am not expert and don't know what it is , but it looks the same problem as with my duckling sharing pics with ya ..... but also I don't know what is this I am also worried about my duckling ... This is the thread which I started https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...t-red-skin-near-its-neck-pics-is-it-a-disease

 

[casportpony]

I am not expert and don't know what it is , but it looks the same problem as with my duckling sharing pics with ya ..... but also I don't know what is this I am also worried about my duckling ... This is the thread which I started https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...t-red-skin-near-its-neck-pics-is-it-a-disease

In your thread all you mentioned was the red color. Is your ducklings neck filled with air?

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

I did read somewhere that the needle under the skin was the way to treat this particular ailment however, not knowing for certain that was what it was well... I couldn't bring myself to just stick her in the neck without KNOWING and causing unnecessary discomfort. As for her weight, WOW! That seems like a lot to gain each day. She has not stopped eating at all... Or drinking for that matter and has managed to pass the other 2 up in size. She is very active and runs around whenever I turn them loose. Follows me around the house like a small fluffy puppy... I will keep a continued watch on her and update if there are any changes. Thank you all so much for all of the input and info... I am very new to this and have become very attached. Funny how they just crawl into your heart and take up roost so quickly.

A weight percentage of 5% isn't that much and seems to be on the low end of normal for my chicks, ducklings and peafowl. Sometimes I see 12% gains. If she's bigger than the others, eating normally and acting normal, it will probably heal on it's own.