Is this a problem???

[Ardizzone7]

I don't think this needs to go into emergencies, but in the picture below is the butt of one of our Cornish chicks. They are 3 weeks old and his by far has the largest red bulbus area of all. At the top of the pic the dark line is the vent and the large red mass, I guess, is below. It looks more red in person. A few of the others have the same thing but not near as big. What is this? I am thinking it is not normal. Any info would be appreciated. This is my first time raising cornish so I do not know much about them.

 

[Beekissed]

It looks pretty normal for this breed, particularly for those that are fed in a way to gain weight quickly. This just sounds like one that is growing a little more quickly than his flock mates.

 

[Oregon Blues]

Nobody keeps Cornish Cross around just for their good looks.

 

[4-H chicken mom]

It is normal. Cornish X take longer than regular layers getting their feathers in. Just keep an eye to make sure it's not being peck at. A red heat lamp bulb helps cut down on the pecking. Good luck.

 

[Ardizzone7]

Thanks for the replies, but what is it? It is under the vent like a large pouch. Is it just red from growning so fast? It is not pecking but more under the skin. I will try to get a better pic.

 

[Beekissed]

It's just the skin that holds their viscera....sort of like having a potbelly. They are so young and growing so fast that they haven't developed a muscle structure yet...picture babies when they crawl and how their bellies sort of sag like an old sway back horse. This is the same for these babies....if you were to cut through that thin layer of skin you would be right into the intestines and then the other viscera.

This is a normal phenomena with this breed, some show it more than others but it's how they look when they are eating a lot and growing quicker than their skin or feathers allow.