2 wk old chicks with swollen spot on chest

[salhasz]

I have six 2-week-old chicks that were incubated at my son's kindergarten.

Today I came home and they had knocked over their water. It was pretty hot out.

Later in the day I checked on them again and they all have a weird lump/swollen area right over where their hearts would be.

Is this a dehydration thing? Anyone know anything about this? Or any suggestions how we can help them?

We are new to chickens, our older ones are only four months old; so we have never dealt with this problem before.

Thanks!

 

[speckledhen]

It's probably the crop where the food goes when they eat. That is normal for it to be enlarged at the end of a day of eating, then it should go down as food is processed. They do need to always have water, though. Could be they were without water too long that day. Chickens are BIG drinkers.