Swollen forehead area - 6 week Delaware

[Mrskk09]

Hi all, wondering if anyone has experience with this. One of my 6 week old chickens has always been huge compared to the others (brought all home at the same time, at 1 day old). Over the past week ish, it looks like her forehead area is swollen? Curious if she was stung by a bee or a spider bite maybe? There’s no eye discharge or anything else funky that I see.

I’m in California, they’re outside full time in a coop/run with weather highs in the mid 70s, lows in the 50s. She’s eating and drinking fine, pooping fine, and happy. Just looking really weird!

 

[Mrskk09]

Here’s a second pic

 

[Eggcessive]

It might be a leaking air sac from a head injury. Does it feel like air under the skin, or does it feel like swelling from a bump? A leaking air sac may become absorbed back into the body, but I would watch for increase swelling. Sometimes those have to be needled and air pushed out or pulled out with a syringe.

It also could be a sting, and benadryl can be given to reduce swelling once time—1/2 children’s dose. Hopefully it is one of those and not something more serious. Has there been any sneezing or respiratory symptoms?

 

[Eggcessive]

Here is a similar thread that turned out to be air under the skin:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/i-have-a-chick-with-a-swollen-head-neck-and-back.980983/

 

[Mrskk09]

It might be a leaking air sac from a head injury. Does it feel like air under the skin, or does it feel like swelling from a bump? A leaking air sac may become absorbed back into the body, but I would watch for increase swelling. Sometimes those have to be needled and air pushed out or pulled out with a syringe.

It also could be a sting, and benadryl can be given to reduce swelling once time—1/2 children’s dose. Hopefully it is one of those and not something more serious. Has there been any sneezing or respiratory symptoms?

No other symptoms that I’ve noticed. I haven’t been messing with her head much to really feel around, she’s not a huge fan of being held as it is. I’ll try to feel around and check it out this evening when I lock them up for the night. Thanks for the reply!

 

[Eggcessive]

Here is another:
https://thepoultrysite.com/publications/diseases-of-poultry/223/subcutaneous-emphysema

 

[Mrskk09]

Here is a similar thread that turned out to be air under the skin:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/i-have-a-chick-with-a-swollen-head-neck-and-back.980983/

Interesting, thank you! This is my favorite girl, hopefully this is all it is.

 

[Mrskk09]

Update on my swollen headed pullet -
Her head does not feel squishy or soft, it’s firm. Doesn’t seem to be any change in size, for better or worse. It seems the swelling has pulled the skin on the inner corner of her eyes forward, exposing the mucosal tissue. She can still close her eyes and cover the eyeball, but not completely cover the exposed tissue. I separated her from the other girls yesterday as our bratty hen was pecking Opal’s neck as she was trying to sleep in the run.
She’s eating/drinking/pooping normally. She’s not happy being alone in the garage and very vocal about that. Vet isn’t an option as of now, but I started her on an opthalmic antibiotic that I had on hand. Any ideas?