What does this chick Have?

[WilliamB]

Does anyone know what this is?

 

[NYSAHMof3]

Is it bulging out? How old is the chick? How is the behavior?

 

[WilliamB]

here is another angle. yes it looks like it is bulging out to me. at the time of the pic the chick is about 2 weeks old. it behavior seems fine, its a little slower then the others, but now it doesn't seem to be growing as fast.

 

[NYSAHMof3]

It's so hard to tell in the pic, do you think it's her crop? Does it seem tender? Hard or soft to the touch. Maybe very distended crop. Has it been swollen since you got her? Has she had anything to eat besides her starter crumble? Have you noticed anyone eating bedding?

 

[WilliamB]

I don't know if its her crop or not, its soft to the touch. I noticed the swelling around week 1. she has only had starter crumble, I added a little bit of chick grit at week 2, but these pics were taken before that. I have not noticed if she has been eating the bedding.

 

[NYSAHMof3]

Does the crop change throughout the day or is it same all day, because I have noticed chicks crops get very swollen after they eat. Feel the entire area and make sure there isn't anything compacted in her crop or hard object. I don't know much, just trying to help you brainstorm till someone more informed chimes in! if you think its a compacted crop I have had luck with little olive oil soaked bread and a few massages. Also might be sour crop check the smell of her breath.

 

[Eggcessive]

My goodness! I am not an expert, but I wonder if this is an air sac that is bulging out? Something called subcutaneous emphysema? Hopefully, someone with experience on this can post.

 

[Eggcessive]

Okay, I have been reading posts here on BTC from as far back as 2007, and it seems that this is something that can happen on it's own or from an injury. If the chick is having no problems, I would just leave it alone and watch it. This is subcutaneous emphysema, I'm pretty sure, and it happens in people too. There can be very severe cases--a lady named Mumsy had a chick with this all over and the chick had to be put down, but this case seems pretty benign. Some people recommend deflating the air bubble with a needle, but others say it goes down on it's own.