Two week old threw up

[Magpie2]

I’m helping a friend raise five chickens. After driving out to his acreage I noticed that one of his chicks was WAY too small for her age, she’s a lavender Orpington, two weeks old and about a third the size of the largest chick (all the same age). After researching, I think she’s deficient in vitamin D, so I’ve brought her and the second smallest (a Barnevelder and suspected rooster for company) back to the city with me to take them to my avian vet.

When I was checking the Orpington over briefly, I looked back at the Barnevelder roo and he had blown a huge BUBBLE from his beak. He had just had a lot of water to drink and now he had a bubble and a clear mucus-like liquid dripping from his beak. He’s not supposed to be the sick one! The bubble popped, he shook his head (sticking the liquid to the side of the bin), sneezed, and continued on his merry way.

I’ll be taking them both to the vet as soon as I can. How concerned do I need to be? He hasn’t been any less active, both are still eating and drinking.

I’ll attach an image of all five to show just how small they are. The chick in the centre is the Orpington and the one on the right is the Barnevelder.

And an overhead shot with the Orpington and the Faverolles (third smallest and way bigger than both)

 

[azygous]

Smaller than average chicks can be that way due to underdeveloped organs that don't adequately process calories and nutrients. So you need to give extra to try to get those organs up to speed.

Poultry Nutri-drench is a great product that works without metabolizing through the liver, a good thing if the liver isn't working 100%.

Give extra high protein feedings of finely minced hard boiled egg or minced tofu. These are very easily digested and can boost cell growth.

 

[Magpie2]

Smaller than average chicks can be that way due to underdeveloped organs that don't adequately process calories and nutrients. So you need to give extra to try to get those organs up to speed.

Poultry Nutri-drench is a great product that works without metabolizing through the liver, a good thing if the liver isn't working 100%.

Give extra high protein feedings of finely minced hard boiled egg or minced tofu. These are very easily digested and can boost cell growth.

Thanks, I have been giving them both some scrambled egg and finely chopped oats mixed with some of their food and a drop or two of cod liver oil.

The vet said that I don’t need to worry about the chick that seemed to throw up as he’s extremely alert and active. He is one of the smaller breeds so maybe that’s why he’s not as big.

The more concerning chick has painkillers, antibiotics, and a scrub with ointment for some sores on her feet. The vet said that it’s likely rickets or a type of yolk infection that presents very similarly to rickets. She perked up quite a bit after having the painkillers and has been gaining weight. 56g to 66g, 10g in three days! The little roo went from 83g to 97g, show off!

She does the sweetest little hops while flapping her wings now that she’s feeling a bit better, I love her so much

Now that the little one has been doing a bit better I’ve noticed something else though. Her head is cocked to the side a bit, always the same side, and I’ve never seen her stretch out her neck. She’s still eating and drinking just fine, the two chicks both gain about 4g from when they wake up to noon so I think they’re eating about the same amount.

When I searched for neck issues, I found a lot of information about Wry Neck but not much else. When stretching or flapping she also doesn’t extend her wings out as far as the other chick, although she does stretch farther than before she had meds. Any ideas on what could be going on there?