is injury or illness?

[Sseckel]

I have a 12week old RSL pullet. I have notived lately that she isn't holding her head quite as hiugh as the rest of my flock. It was minor and she was behaving normally so I just kept an eye on her. This morning while tehy were ranging I noticed that it is pretty much down and forward at all times. In addition to that there is a spot on her neck that is very swollen and distorting her appearance. I have included pics below. Has anyone seen any thing like this? They free range about half the time otherwise they are in their run. I haven't seen anything to make me believe it is an injury but I can't rule it our either.
The first pic shows her posture and the second the swelling

 

[Sseckel]

I am prepping to seperate her if necessary. Also I kinda felt around and there is a boney protrusion along the right side (just above where teh neck swelling starts) At first I thought it might be the scapula/shoulder but it is WAY above the other side (more than 2 inches) but it is the only thing I can think of. If the vertibrea were out that much her neck would be broken, so I don't think that is it.

 

[Sseckel]

anyone?

 

[Eggcessive]

It's possible that she has scoliosis or "roach back." It usually poses no problems, but I would not breed her. I wondered about her having wry neck or crook neck from the first photo, but from your description, a boney deformity of her spine may be the problem.
http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/1588169?uid=3739704&uid=2&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=21104416539711
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/612300/humpback-chicken
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/556240/roach-back-what-does-it-mean-and-how-do-you-know-your-bird-has-it
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/882704/hunchback-of-the-chicken-coop

 

[Sseckel]

It's possible that she has scoliosis or "roach back." It usually poses no problems, but I would not breed her. I wondered about her having wry neck or crook neck from the first photo, but from your description, a boney deformity of her spine may be the problem.
http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/1588169?uid=3739704&uid=2&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=21104416539711
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/612300/humpback-chicken
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/556240/roach-back-what-does-it-mean-and-how-do-you-know-your-bird-has-it
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/882704/hunchback-of-the-chicken-coop

Thank you! I had never heard of either of those conditions. I am not sure if this is it or not but I am so very thankful that you have given me a great place to start looking. They wry neck looks like the likely culprit to me. He issue seems to be a bit lower than teh pictures show but I assume it can show up anywhere along the neck. I'm not sure if it is hurting her or not right now. She freaks when I handle her but she has always been kinda flighty so its tough to know. Luckily we don't do any breeding right now but it is a goal of mine eventually. So again thank you!

 

[evekelly]

I see this is an older post, but this is exactly what Dottie's neck does. The description of the bony protrusion and the picture both are almost identical to what I see in Dottie's neck. She is only 6 weeks old. Any information on how your RIR is doing, SSeckel??

thanks,