Lump on 2 Day Old Chick

[elc0711]

Hi, all! I'm new here, but have had experience with chickens since I was a teen. However, this year I've run into something I'm unfamiliar with - hoping someone here can help! I picked up my order of chicks yesterday afternoon. This morning, I noticed a small lump on the right side of one of these little nuggets, below her neck, in front of her wing, behind her breast. I'm crossing my fingers really hard that it might just be a temporary vaccine reaction that will resolve itself, but if anyone has any experience, input, or helpful hints, I would be very appreciative! TIA!

 

[azygous]

You need to gently feel the lump and tell us if it feels hard and solid or soft as if filled with air or soft and spongy like a water balloon.

 

[elc0711]

You need to gently feel the lump and tell us if it feels hard and solid or soft as if filled with air or soft and spongy like a water balloon.

It's not hard like a rock, but it is firm.

 

[azygous]

It might be the clavical air sac. If so, I would expect it to diminish over this next week.

 

[elc0711]

It might be the clavical air sac. If so, I would expect it to diminish over this next week.

Upon further inspection, it does seem to be a bit larger than the featherless patch. Dime sized, I would say, which I feel is large for a chick so small. It feels to be about the consistency of a firm chicken breast.

 

[elc0711]

She is otherwise acting normally. Eating, drinking, pooping. Running around with the rest of the batch. Seems to rest comfortably.

 

[azygous]

Chicken behavior is the best indication of well being. So it is also with human infants. Getting into this world can involve a lot of sweat and labor, and not all of it is from the mother. My son was born with a huge hematoma on his head. It looked ghastly, but was simply a temporary result of a very fast labor, but he was normal and acted fine.

So it is with some chicks. Getting out of the egg is hard work. Sometimes there's a little after effect that will resolve on its own. As long as your chick behaves normally, try not to be too concerned.

 

[elc0711]

Chicken behavior is the best indication of well being. So it is also with human infants. Getting into this world can involve a lot of sweat and labor, and not all of it is from the mother. My son was born with a huge hematoma on his head. It looked ghastly, but was simply a temporary result of a very fast labor, but he was normal and acted fine.

So it is with some chicks. Getting out of the egg is hard work. Sometimes there's a little after effect that will resolve on its own. As long as your chick behaves normally, try not to be too concerned.

Thank you so much for your input and support. She's still acting normal, and her lump doesn't seem to have changed size - bigger or smaller. I'll update if there are any changes. Thank you again!