Have you ever seen this?

[DrFarmersDrWife]

I have a 6 day old chick who is not thriving as well as it's brooder mates. I've been monitoring her, giving electrolyte water, scrambled eggs and probiotic water. She pretends to eat and does drink but mostly sleeps.

What I have never seen before is that her crop (I assume) fills with air. It is swollen on the left breast and up toward the shoulder/wing. It's so swollen I can see skin around her shoulder/neck. I decided to massage it gently, assuming it is really her crop, and it basically deflates. She seems to relax during this and basically burp.

There is nothing on the right side.

So have you guys ever seen this? Do you have suggestions? I'm surprised she is hanging on still given her lethargy.

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[Kelsie2290]

I wonder if it has a mild case of air sacculitis or something not quite right with one of them? http://www.worldpoultry.net/Breeders/General/2009/11/Rising-pressure-from-air-sacculitis-WP006961W/

 

[DrFarmersDrWife]

That certainly fits what I am seeing. I'll be stopping by TS for some Tylan antibiotics. Hopefully I can get her well.

Thanks for the comment. I really was at a loss for an explanation.

This morning I lost one of her brooder mates. I was so shocked! They all seem so healthy except for my little blue one. So I'm thinking they are all sick and so likley came to me sick. wish me luck with the antibiotics.

 

[Eggcessive]

Have you talked to the people at the ranch where you got them? The one you are treating seems to have a full crop at times, then it goes down which is normal. The crop is on the chicks upper right chest, and can look quite full at times. There should be no need to treat a new baby chick with Tylan. That is for respiratory disease, and you don't want to start out with chickens with a respiratory disease. In fact, I haven't seen any symptoms of respiratory disease discussed. Tylan is one of the big guns of chicken antibiotics, and shouldn't be overused. MG and coryza are the the more well known respiratory diseases. Air sacculitis is a secondary infection usually E. coli that can happen with MG. Seriously, if you have chicks with that (and I don't think you do) you would want to give them back. Sorry about the loss of your chick.

 

[DrFarmersDrWife]

So should I treat for MG? I already have other 3 month old chickens from this ranch so my flock are likely all carriers already.

If I can get them healthy id like to keep them.