Baby chick hernia?

[leeleebird]

Hello all! This barred rock baby chick has had the same (what I imagine to be) hernia on her bottom since I got her at three days old. She's not bothered by it in the least - she's very active and friendly and curious. She doesn't fuss with it and no one pokes at it - she eats, drinks, and poops normally. It has been proportionally the same size on her growing body for the last three weeks with no change. It kind of inflates/deflates with her breathing.

Anyone have a similar experience with a baby chick/hernia? Any advice? I'm not really sure of the options or outlook. Thanks in advance!

 

[Eggcessive]

I have not seen that before but it looks like the air sac in that region seems close to the surface. I am not sure what to do about it since it has been there for 3 weeks of life. Usually with a leaking air sac, a needle can be inserted under the skin to withdraw air. But since it expands and contracts with breathing, I would not withdraw air. Here is a picture of air sacs in chickens:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url...ved=0CAcQjRxqFwoTCLCukajUjvcCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD

 

[-Isla June-]

It might be a yolk sac that has not fully absorbed. Let me do more research to find out and in the meantime hopefully, another member can help you I am so sorry!

 

[leeleebird]

I have not seen that before but it looks like the air sac in that region seems close to the surface. I am not sure what to do about it since it has been there for 3 weeks of life. Usually with a leaking air sac, a needle can be inserted under the skin to withdraw air. But since it expands and contracts with breathing, I would not withdraw air. Here is a picture of air sacs in chickens:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https://www.dummies.com/article/home-auto-hobbies/hobby-farming/chickens/the-respiratory-system-of-a-chicken-167866&psig=AOvVaw1ca2_sh2XzYjbCjRKCP2qb&ust=1649857431433000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAcQjRxqFwoTCLCukajUjvcCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD

This makes a lot more sense than a hernia, since its clearly expanding with her breathing. Thank you so much for that insight, I never would have thought of that!

 

[leeleebird]

An update:
Against better advice, I decided to try to drain the herniated site as it had grown this last week and I couldn't be sure it wasn't collecting fluid - it had turned into a true bulge. Used a 25G needle and empty syringe for aspirating after alcoholing the site - got nothing, just an upset chick.The best conclusion is that its a herniation of the lung sac/gut bulging through a weak muscle wall, its soft/nontender and can be gently reduced but fills back up immediately. I can't imagine that surgery is a viable option right now, as anesthesia can't possible be good for chicks not to mention expensive). The chick herself is completely unfazed by this bulge, she's very active and adventurous- only noticed when I started messing with it and applied Neosporin afterwards. She wasn't too traumatized however and still flys up to my arm to perch/sleep. She's probably just wondering why I'm so obsessed with her butt.