Ruptured Air Sacs
Yikes, you look in the nestbox and see this! What is it? Will it kill the baby? What caused this and how can it be fixed?
These are common responses when this happens. Rest assured it looks worse than it really is. The chances of this are slim when this is seen by those breeding birds but can happen. This can happen to any species of bird and at any age. It is not exclusive to babies in the nest.
I’ll include a couple of links for you to read. Please read to familiarize yourself on what Air Sacs are and their role in the body. Even though one may get damaged there are others to pick up the slack until it is repaired.
Some links about Air Sacs
WHAT ARE AIR SACS? http://www.currumbinvetservices.com.au/what-are-air-sacs/
Pulmonary and Nasopharyngeal Systems in Birds http://www.thewonderofbirds.com/biology/air-sacs.htm
Air Sac Rupture in Birds
Read more at: https://wagwalking.com/bird/condition/air-sac-rupture
These are common responses when this happens. Rest assured it looks worse than it really is. The chances of this are slim when this is seen by those breeding birds but can happen. This can happen to any species of bird and at any age. It is not exclusive to babies in the nest.
I’ll include a couple of links for you to read. Please read to familiarize yourself on what Air Sacs are and their role in the body. Even though one may get damaged there are others to pick up the slack until it is repaired.
Some links about Air Sacs
WHAT ARE AIR SACS? http://www.currumbinvetservices.com.au/what-are-air-sacs/
Pulmonary and Nasopharyngeal Systems in Birds http://www.thewonderofbirds.com/biology/air-sacs.htm
Air Sac Rupture in Birds
Read more at: https://wagwalking.com/bird/condition/air-sac-rupture
You’ll see this illustration used throughout is article. I included it for reference of the specific air sac that is ruptured in each of the illustrations.
As mentioned above this can happen at any age. If in the nest if minor looking there could be other causes as shown.
Ruptured Air Sacs (RAS) may occur on any area of the body cavity. Avian meds books say that the cause is unknown. From my personal experience I’ve observed they are trauma related. Such as a toenail puncture or contact with a sharp object. With an adult female it could be from a toenail puncture from the mounting male.
As you can see from the illustrations that if you do not know what it is you might think it is a strange growth or a tumor.
If you go to a vet, the most common procedure used is a sterile needle to puncture the skin and gently squeeze the area to deflate it. NOTE: This may have to be done several times. If on the neck vet wrap is helpful right after inflation to restrain the site from inflating again but may still possibly inflate. As long as the area is inflated the tissue can not heal. The ends of the torn tissue must come in contact with the torn edges to heal. Once Deflated continue the hold for 30 seconds to allow the torn edges to stick together. This may take 1-2 attempt before this is resolved.
Other causes, sometimes with fatal results, is from how a bird is restrained/held.
If you go to a vet, the most common procedure used is a sterile needle to puncture the skin and gently squeeze the area to deflate it. NOTE: This may have to be done several times. If on the neck vet wrap is helpful right after inflation to restrain the site from inflating again but may still possibly inflate. As long as the area is inflated the tissue can not heal. The ends of the torn tissue must come in contact with the torn edges to heal. Once Deflated continue the hold for 30 seconds to allow the torn edges to stick together. This may take 1-2 attempt before this is resolved.
Other causes, sometimes with fatal results, is from how a bird is restrained/held.
In summary, don’t panic. It looks worse than what it is. Since it is not disease related it would not be considered life threatening. If unattended it is added stress to the bird. Stress can be the gateway to secondary yeast and bacterial problems. My advice is to act promptly to reduce any stress. And fortunately RAS does not need major surgery.
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Copyright © 1993-2019
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be produced and/or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior permission by this author.
TERMS OF USE: Use of this work is subject to the following terms except as permitted under the Copyright Act of 1976 and the right to store or retrieve on copy of this work.
You may not decompile, dissemble, re-mix or reverse engineer, reproduce, modify, create derivative works based upon your own re-wording, transmit, distribute, disseminate, sell, publish or sublicense this book/work or any part of it without Susanne Russo’s (email ask.noodles@outlook.com )
You may use parts of this work for your own noncommercial and personal use only. Any other use of this article/work is strictly prohibited.
