Do you have a newly hatched chick with a bubble on it’s head or a blister on it’s head, similar to the one below?
Exencephaly is a cranial malformation where varying degrees of the chicks brain or cranial fluid is exposed. This often looks like a bubble or blister on the top of the chicks head.
I’m not a vet but after having a valuable chick hatch with this deformity I wanted to save it and found as much research as I could.
Exencephaly is usually genetic and seems to be more prevalent in certain breeds of chickens, including Exchequer Leghorns – which is what my chick was.
It doesn’t seem this is a survivable or curable condition. Even if the baby lives beyond the first days the other chicks may tend to peck the injury, making it worse or causing pain and seizures. There are a number of reasons to cull a chick but I didn’t have the heart to end his life and had no idea what I was dealing with at the time. If he could have a quality life then I would try to save him.
My boy lived for several months and seemed to flourish until he was a few months old. Then the severe seizures started. They would pass but worsened over a couple weeks until finally he went into one for many hours which is when I culled him.
I hope this never happens to you but if you have a chick with a bubble or blister looking growth on it’s head please don’t try to pop it and notify the breeder immediately. They should know their breeding pair can produce this deadly condition.