Lopsided chick breast?

[middlechick18]

We went in on an order of chicks with many other people because we only wanted 4. Many of the chicks died on the way, and so we got 2 of our 4. Our gold star looked lethargic and sickly from the start and wouldn't open her eyes, and the following day she died. We were then left with a very lively but lonely female (hopefully, that's what we ordered) Rhode Island Red chick. She has been eating, drinking, and sleeping under the heat lamp like any other chick and seems perfectly healthy. She is two days old now. However we noticed that her chest was quite lopsided from the start. We can't tell what (if anything) it is and if its a tumor or her crop. Has anyone experienced this before? Could it be Marek's? These are our first chicks, but could she have been exposed to it during shipping or something in her two days since hatching?

 

[aknewlin]

That's exactly where the crop is supposed to be, and that side will look quite lopsided when it is full. My adults look like they've swallowed a grapefruit after a good bug hunt.

Sorry about losing all the others.

 

[JeanR]

Chick will be jumping out of the box in a day or two--so be prepared to add a top (1/2" hardware cloth makes a good lid that isn't easy for a chick to push off and still lets in light/heat.) Thermometer on the bottom of the box to check for 95 degrees temp for the first week--check it . And a lonely chick can be noisy and not eat really well. A small mirror tacked to the side of the box can be great "company". And if you place food in front, the chick will eat and sleep with its"friend"! Good luck! Will see if I can find a picture....

 

[middlechick18]

Ok thank you! We actually have a larger brooder(below) with the necessities, the box is just for play. But thank you for the mirror idea! We will be sure to give her an mirror friend until she gets her 3 new buddies.