Normal?

[HeatherEmme]

Early last week I lost two chicks to cold/stress/cocci.

My remaining chick needed a buddy so we picked up a new chick from the hatchery this past Wednesday. Well this chick appears fine except that last night I noticed a huge bulge on her neck.

My first thought was impacted crop but that sounds ridiculous on a chick as we aren't feeding her hay or anything stringy. I know that when eating their crops can get full and it may bulge out but this is like the size of a large marble. Her chick feed is practically powder it's so ground up. All the other chicks we have raised in the past have never had a lump this size on their 'chest' area. I removed her food for an hour last night and watered her by hand a bit and then gently massaged the area, but this morning the lump is still there. I can almost feel the little grains of feed in there. So odd. Anyone else have chicks that get these lumps when they eat?

 

[Chickenkeepr]

What breed is this new chick?

 

[HeatherEmme]

All of my chickens/chicks are buff orpingtons

 

[Chickenkeepr]

Oh, ok. I was thinking if the hatchery had given you a cornish cross, that would explain it. My meat chicks always looked like they had tumors on them when I would feed. Do they have chick grit available? Could it have ingested some shavings or straw?