Possible ruptured air sac?

[Shelby14]

This poor chick was found with its head stuck in a fence and cut all its skin off around the neck. I've cleaned up the wound to where I'm not too worried about it anymore but there is a bubble that looks like it's filled with air by its neck. Every time it eats, the bubble gets big and I'm thinking that as it's eating and filling up itscrop, it's pushing the air in that sac. What can I do for this poor baby?

 

[Eggcessive]

Could it be air inside the crop? Sometimes that can happen and the crop can look like it is more on the shoulder. You could try to find the crop and feel of it. You may be right about it being a leaking or ruptured air sac though. Not all leaking air sacs need to be needled right away. If the chick is not having respiratory distress or it is becoming larger you can just watch it. But if you do need to withdraw air with a sterile needle, then use a 22 to 18 gauge needle to barely puncture the skin. You can press the air out with your hands or pull it out with a syringe.

 

[Eggcessive]

Here are some videos of removing air from a leaking air sac (subcutaneous emphysema) with a needle:

 

[casportpony]

@Eggcessive, great videos.