I just hatched some buff orpingtons and a few of them have swollen heads or necks. I was wondering if anybody knows what this is or what causes it? when I gently squeeze the swollen part on the neck, it doesn't seem to cause any pain, and it feels firm like muscle.
That might be exactly what it is-- a muscle. I am no expert but I know that they have a muscle in the back of their necks that contracts when its time to hatch. That's what makes them "convulse" and pip.