bubble/air sacs in chicks

[1hippiechick]

It seems my one week old chick has some sort of air bubble. I was given instructions on how to care for it I think I have caught it early enough and it was small too. She seems to be doing OK occasionally I have to squeeze more air out but I was told it will either go away or come back. Is this a disease and even though she isn't around my other birds can they get it I really don't know what to do! Most people I know haven't heard of it ....Subcutaneous emphysema?? Anyone else ever have this problem maybe I need a vet?

 

[Eggcessive]

Where is the air bubble? Just make sure it's not the crop located in the chick's upper right chest. A leaking air sac can cause an area of air to collect under the skin, and it is called wind puff or subcutaneous emphysema. The air sacs are located all over the body, and can be injured easily. If the air sac leak is small, and the chick is not in distress, I would rather do nothing. If it is large, getting bigger, or the chick is in distress, then I would take a 22 gauge needle and puncture the skin, then squeeze out as much air as possible, and hold your finger over the puncture site for several minutes. Then I would apply Neosporin to it (just a tiny dot.) Be careful not to puncture the crop where the food is stored.
http://ijasvm.com/ijasvmadmin/upload/IJASVM_5113cbc51d31b.pdf
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/171121/deflating-subcutaneous-emphysema
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/6/diseases-of-poultry/223/subcutaneous-emphysema

 

[Eggcessive]

Here is some anatomy (the chick's crop may be higher

 

[1hippiechick]

Its on the back of her neck and wing

 

[Eggcessive]

Can you locate the crop in front right side of neck? Sometimes in baby chicks, the crops can be closer to a shoulder. I recently had to deflate a very large air sac on the whole right side in a 2 week old (I used a 22 gauge needle, since that was all I had.) The chick became very weak just after I did it, but after lying there for a bit, he perked back up, and did well. This leaking air sacs can reappear, so it can take more than one attempt. I prefer to not do any punctures if I can get away with it.

 

[1hippiechick]

You can hear it deflate and it will fill back up I won't poke her again I've been trying to get it to come out the same hole but I think she's getting another one on the other side I really don't want to prick her again.

 

[Liz Birdlover]

One of my chicks has one. I recall this with my Homing Pigeons & using a needle hole to gently deflate, it is just under skin. It does fill up again & I've deflated by just sticking the same hole as it's usually just a tiny scab. It usually heals well & most times doesn't happen again, but if so, just have to repeat the process. I used to have a great source to call on the phone, but Dr. Pigeon passed away, God bless him. He told me to make a bit of a larger opening if it keeps happening so air can escape on it's own, & I only had to do that 1x but she healed well.