My chick looks a lot bigger than the others?

[Lucy_Dobinson]

Hi sorry I’m new here! I have three 4 week old brown shaver hens, currently in a large brooder eating chick starter. I have noticed one of the chicks has quite a puffed looking chest, and the other day threw up some milky mucous looking liquid when I went to pick her up? She is eating and drinking fine, and still very alert. Any ideas if this is something wrong or just me being paranoid? Thanks! Pics attached.

 

[DiYMama540]

Any chance you squeezed her crop when you picked her up causing her to throw up?
Also, I'm not familiar with the brown shaver breed, are they sex link? Sometimes a major size difference points towards rooster, but the comb and wattles don't look very big or red so hopefully that's not the case.

 

[Lucy_Dobinson]

Yes a sex link! I’m from New Zealand so I think they call them shavers here? I also noticed she opens her mouth sometimes but no sound comes out. Her crop may have been squeezed slightly? but her chest does seem very swollen

 

[DiYMama540]

Are you offering any grit for them to help with digestion?
Here they sell "chick grit" which is very small crushed granite. Once the girls move outside, they pick a lot of that stuff up off the ground on their own, but it's important to offer it on the side while they are still in the brooder.

 

[Lucy_Dobinson]

No not at the moment, I got told you don’t need grit when just feeding starter crumble - but I will grab some when I can and see if that helps