Is this a ruptured air sac

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selliott

selliott

Hatching
5 Years
May 23, 2014
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This is my 10 week old hen. I discovered this yesterday and don't know what it is or what to do. The areas on her breast and top of her head feel mushy like there is air in there.

 
Welcome to BYC. It could be a leaking air sac (subcutaneous emphysema) or possible swollen head syndrome (avian pneumovirus.) I'm not sure why there are two of them--be sure the chest one isn't the crop of course. Get a couple of 18 gauge needles and a large syringe from the feed store, and barely stick the needle under the skin (without the syringe) and try pushing air out (you will need help.) Young chickens can get injured frequently, and this can happen. Here are a couple of links: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/171121/deflating-subcutaneous-emphysema
http://ijasvm.com/ijasvmadmin/upload/IJASVM_5113cbc51d31b.pdf
 
Last edited:
Okay, I am going to try this. I believe she will die if I don't and she might if I do so I'll just do what SI can. Can I also give her Tylan 50?
 
Thanks. I went to TSC and got some needles. I tried it in three different places and it seemed to go down a little as I pressed on it with the needle inserted. I will try again tomorrow and see if I can get it to go down some more. I am not sure whether to try it on the top of her head. She was such a dollbaby and didn't even flinch when I put the needle in. I wiped her several times with alcohol and didn't see any blood so I guess I did it correctly.
 
The air can reaccumulate sometimes, so don't be shocked if you have to do it a few days in a row. Good job on deflating it--I've never done this before. Sometimes there can be infection as a cause, but in such a young one it hopefully is just from injury.
 
I am going to try it again tomorrow. Just didn't want to aggravate her too much at one time. Think I will also get some antibiotics tomorrow just to be on the safe side. Thanks for everyone's help.
 

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