Emergency Inflated Rooter!

[BamaChickenGirl]

Hey! I have recently added 8 new chicks to my flock. They are around 13 weeks now. We hade them separated to get to know each other and then released them together. The first rooster of the new flock was very aggressive to the other hens and rooster of the new flock. He has always had incredible spirit and made protective action to protect his flock of 8. Recently, I noticed he had completely lost his spirit however I didn't think much of fit and figured he is just understanding the pecking order. Today I noticed some blood on his comb and got him to clean him up. When I picked him up his chest felt as if it were going to pop. It was loose and felt like air was pocketed up inside. I felt around his body and noticed his wing felt the same. He had a wound on his wing but nothing else showing that it was severe. I researched and I found that this can be either a simple situation or could be life and death. I was curious about what you guys thought of the matter and what I should do about it. Here is a picture his wing and of his chest.

 

[BamaChickenGirl]

Hey! I have recently added 8 new chicks to my flock. They are around 13 weeks now. We hade them separated to get to know each other and then released them together. The first rooster of the new flock was very aggressive to the other hens and rooster of the new flock. He has always had incredible spirit and made protective action to protect his flock of 8. Recently, I noticed he had completely lost his spirit however I didn't think much of fit and figured he is just understanding the pecking order. Today I noticed some blood on his comb and got him to clean him up. When I picked him up his chest felt as if it were going to pop. It was loose and felt like air was pocketed up inside. I felt around his body and noticed his wing felt the same. He had a wound on his wing but nothing else showing that it was severe. I researched and I found that this can be either a simple situation or could be life and death. I was curious about what you guys thought of the matter and what I should do about it. Here is a picture his wing and of his chest.

 

[Chicken_Obsesser]

@Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock @azygous

 

[Eggcessive]

If you feel air underneath the skin, it may be subcutaneous emphysema or leaking air sac. It can be treated by inserting a hypodermic needle into the skin and pulling the air out. If it is just a small area, you could leave it alone, and the body will absorb the air. Below is a video showing how to deflate a leaking or ruptured air sac:

 

[Chicken_Obsesser]

In the meantime you could give him some electrolytes or sugar water to keep his energy up? I know it's not a fix but until someone with more experience replies I'd just keep him calm.

 

[Altairsky]

From the pictures the skin looks blue, like massive bruising/hematoma.

 

[BamaChickenGirl]

If you feel air underneath the skin, it may be subcutaneous emphysema or leaking air sac. It can be treated by inserting a hypodermic needle into the skin and pulling the air out. If it is just a small area, you could leave it alone, and the body will absorb the air. Below is a video showing how to deflate a leaking or ruptured air sac:

Okay, I will try and figure that out!

 

[BamaChickenGirl]

In the meantime you could give him some electrolytes or sugar water to keep his energy up? I know it's not a fix but until someone with more experience replies I'd just keep him calm.

Okay, Thankyou

 

[BigBlueHen53]

From the pictures the skin looks blue, like massive bruising/hematoma.

Don't chickens bruise green?

 

[glloyd203]

Hi all, hoping someone can help me with this, I have a chick with this issue. I "popped" her today but she still seems puffy, though not as bad as before. Wondering if I should do it again tomorrow, and keep doing it daily until she is no longer air-filled, or if I need to wait for it to go down. I just used a 20g piercing needle so I'm sure the hole has closed back up. Am I supposed to be waiting for the air to reabsorb into the sacs and be processed out, or do I need to keep poking her until it's gone?