FINCHforum

Hi all.

I have searched the internet for a strange formation on my current batch of chicks. Around their necks is what appears to be little white heads. I first thought that a bird had pooped some seeds and it happened to be on the neck of the birds. But that is not the case.

These growths do not seem to affect the birds or seem to irriate them. But one poor bird has a collar of white heads around its neck that it is bigger than its head!

I had this appear on a previous chick and I wondered if it was malnutrition because it was fostered by two societies. These foster parents just only eat seed and never eat any other of my good stuff I place for them. The foster chick had developed poor feathers and had these white heads around its neck. When the chick was old enough to start exploring on its own, it started to eat all the other foods I have for it and the white heads and poor feathers cleared up. A month later, it looked normal.

Why I am bringing this up now is because I have a nest full of nine chicks from two of my best breeders; these birds eat everything I give them and their superior nutrition show in the large cluck they produced. But every single one of those nine chicks has these white heads.

I have some theories as to what this is: First, could it be malnutrition? Is it possible that the parents are so overburdened that they simply cannot adequately feed all of the chicks. Second, could it be a parasite like fleas or mites. But if it is a parasite, why only the neck and nowhere else.

I will try to get a pic of this condition when they leave the nest.

What do others think that this is. Has anyone ever had this before? Should I be worried?

I just want to verify that this is not the chicks crop full of seed, food, etc that you are seeing. Sometimes new bird owners don't know what this is and think there is something wrong with the chicks.

When the parents feed the chicks, the food goes into the chicks crop. Since the chicks do not have feathers initially, the crop is very obvious through the thin skin around the neck. You will see whatever you are providing the parents to feed the chicks - seeds, eggfood, etc. And good parents will feed their chicks very well and the crop will expand and get quite large.

Is this what you are seeing?

That is interesting. But does the crop get that full that it swells unevenly around the neck?

I really hope that it is that simple. It would also explain why I can't find anything about it on the 'net.

Yes, the crop can be quite large and bulging! You know then the the parents are feeding the chicks very well...lol!!

Oops - somehow my last post showed up as "Guest" - I must of logged out

Thanks. It would explain why it comes and goes.
They should be leaving the nest next week and if they still have it, I will post a pic so other worryworts like me do not have to panic.

I agree it sounds like the crop which holds the food during feeding until it is ready to be digested. Your adult birds have them too but they are covered in feathers.

It is perfectly normal and nothing to worry about :)

Well my babies are leaving the nest. They look totally fine and I feel confident that the growths are not growths at all.

Thank you for all the help!