Chicks with a strang lump on chest

[chicklunatic]

I have six seven-day-old chicks. They are different breeds; two of them are leghorns. These two have developed a strange lump on one side of their chest. They seem healthy, so I wanted to know if this is something I should worry about or if it just a normal developement on this breed. Called my sister, who got her chicks from the same place, and she says her only leghorn also has the same lump. What is this thing? And is it contagious?

 

[canada-goose]

It's probably a full crop.

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

on the right side of the chest? If so, that's their crop being full...just make sure it empties, and they'll be fine...

ETA: Great minds think alike Kooshie!!! And....

 

[chicklunatic]

Yes, it is on the right side. How do I make sure the crop empties? Just watch them or do I actually do something?

 

[stargazer1974]

One of my chicks crop seems to sit on the right side of it's chest. One day last week it was so big and hard, I watched it throughout the day. It gradually went down. Turns out it was just bein a little piggy!

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

Quote:
Just make sure they don't STAY that way...frankly, I don't even really check mine unless someone is having an issue...

 

[canada-goose]

Quote:
It's okay, a full crop isn't dangerous usually. It shows they have a healthy appetite.

 

[alabamachick]

I went through this when I first got my fuzzies too! I thought "Oh NO! My Chicks all have some sort of tumor!"

I quickly learned it was just my babies being little piggies! In the morning when you wake them up it should have gone down.
With mine, it would get big during the day, and be gone in the morning.

 

[chicklunatic]

Thanks for the help! I have never had chicks this small before. They seemed active and fine, but that lump just looked really strange!

 

[FromChictoChick]

Phew! I thought my chicks had an infection or a tumor or something! I was so nervous!

Should I remove the food from the brooder until it goes down?