HELP my chick has a swollen stomach

[rebirdchild]

My one easter egger chick was looking a bit sluggish...so I picked her up and her whole chest was swollen...not just her crop...i dont know what could be wrong with her?

 

[My 3 Babies]

Does she have fluid in her chest.

 

[rebirdchild]

I think so...its not hard its kind of squsihy almost like a balloon.

 

[rebirdchild]

Shes still drinking and eating doing normal chicken stuff...shes just sluggish and can't get around very well.

 

[chickney]

This is happening with us. There is a lump in her chest. She has been struggling for a few days now.

 

[Eggcessive]

If it is not the crop it may be a condition called subcutaneous emphysema, which is an air sac that may have occurred from an injury. Air escapes from the lung into an area under the skin. Sometimes air can be removed with an 18 gauge needle and a syringe. Here is a post on this condition: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/171121/deflating-subcutaneous-emphysema

 

[rebirdchild]

Thanks I might try it! Ive had them since wednesday so maybe its an injury from shipping.

 

[rebirdchild]

Update...I am pretty sure its her crop but her droppings are very watery...should I be concerned? Is it possible for a crop to get clogged?

 

[Eggcessive]

Droppings can become watery if the chick is very thirsty and drinks a lot of water. Crop impaction is very common--that is why it is important that you tell if this bulge is her crop or a ruptured air sac (subcutaneous emphysema.) Impacted crop can lead to death fairly quickly in a chick because food cannot get through to be digested. Some causes are eating pine shavings or long pieces of grass that get kinked and stop up the crop. Here is a link to read on crop impaction: http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/04/answers-from-chicken-vet-on-impacted.html

 

[rebirdchild]

Im pretty sure its her crop.... I have isolated her from the other birds and making her food into a mush...I added electrolytes to her water which might help her energy level...I am massaging it gently to try to help her food pass...she recently pooped and there was some solids in it so thats a good sign. Thanks for your help I really hope she pulls through!