What could this be?

[ajroth166]

So I was out checking on my flock and looking closely at them bc I was evaluating the injured after a brutal massacre by some predator last night. I came across this guy and I’m not sure what it is. Any info or advice would be appreciated. Feels liquidy, and soft to push on and not hard.

 

[Rose Quartz]

So I was out checking on my flock and looking closely at them bc I was evaluating the injured after a brutal massacre by some predator last night. I came across this guy and I’m not sure what it is. Any info or advice would be appreciated. Feels liquidy, and soft to push on and not hard.

Looks like he ate a lot and has a full crop.

 

[TwoChicksChix]

I agree with Rose. Leave him in the coop at night and check again in the morning before you feed. If it went down, it’s just his crop which might be in a weird place because of all the food.

I know my bow-ties look like they have tumors after eating. Looks real weird.

 

[Eggcessive]

That is probably a ruptured air sac or subcutaneous emphysema, and can be similar to a person having a collapsed lung.

 

[Eggcessive]

How is the chick acting? Is he breathing okay or struggling? If he is not in any danger, I would leave it alone, and it should be re-absorded by the body. If he is having problems breathing, or it gets very large, you can stick a sterilized needle into the bubble and push out or withdraw the air with a syringe. Here is a video showing a robin with a leaking air sac having it deflated:

 

[Eggcessive]

Here is another video of a chicken, and please clean the skin with disinfectant if doing this:

 

[ajroth166]

How is the chick acting? Is he breathing okay or struggling? If he is not in any danger, I would leave it alone, and it should be re-absorded by the body. If he is having problems breathing, or it gets very large, you can stick a sterilized needle into the bubble and push out or withdraw the air with a syringe. Here is a video showing a robin with a leaking air sac having it deflated:

Shes acting totally normal and not like anything is wrong at all. It was one that had gotten pecked by another pullet earlier which is why it’s got some feathers missing. But they never broke skin or caused bleeding.

 

[ajroth166]

How is the chick acting? Is he breathing okay or struggling? If he is not in any danger, I would leave it alone, and it should be re-absorded by the body. If he is having problems breathing, or it gets very large, you can stick a sterilized needle into the bubble and push out or withdraw the air with a syringe. Here is a video showing a robin with a leaking air sac having it deflated:

And it’s more up at the shoulder area by the side of the neck, not so much under the wing or at the breast area where those two videos show. Also probably the size of a medium bouncy ball.

 

[Eggcessive]

Here is a diagram of the location of air sacs in birds, and chickens are similar. Any bumping or trauma can cause a leaking or ruptured air sac. I would just watch it, and hopefully, there won’t be a need to needle it. If you have the time, it would be good to shop for a few 10 ml syringes with 18 gauge needles at your feed or farm store, in case you have a need for them.

 

[ajroth166]

Here is a diagram of the location of air sacs in birds, and chickens are similar. Any bumping or trauma can cause a leaking or ruptured air sac. I would just watch it, and hopefully, there won’t be a need to needle it. If you have the time, it would be good to shop for a few 10 ml syringes with 18 gauge needles at your feed or farm store, in case you have a need for them. View attachment 1848975

Awesome! Thank you so much!! I didn’t know that they had so many!