Unusual breathing appearance

[k.bee]

Hello knowledgeable chicken folks! Hoping to get some advice from yall. I have 32 Freedom Ranger chicks that are 12 days old. All are eating, drinking, and flapping about normally. One chick though has me concerned. When he breathes the space between his eye and beak on either side as well as the area below his beak puff out with each breath (his beak itself is closed). He doesn't seem concerned by it and is one of the larger chicks of the group. The are in an 8ft x 9ft shed, pine flakes for bedding, eat Nutrena meatbird crumble and have normal droppings. Has anyone seen this before? I appreciate any advice!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi @k.bee Welcome to BYC

If you have video of him that may be helpful (upload to youtube and provide a link).

I'm not sure what is going on there, could be a developmental problem with the air sacs, but who knows. Is there any mucous, wheezing, sneezing or other symptoms that woudl indicate respiratory illness?

Likely there is not much that can be done but keep watch on him to make sure he's eating/drinking o.k.

 

[k.bee]

No mucous, sneezing or wheezing. I will attempt to attach a video, hope it works!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I don't know!
Hopefully someone else may recognize that. @coach723 @Eggcessive

 

[coach723]

Never seen anything exactly like that. Can you possibly get a close up of that chicks beak and nares? I'm wondering if there is a deformity that may be affecting the breathing. In the video the nares look like maybe they are farther down the beak than normal? But it's hard to tell.

 

[k.bee]

Here is a front and side picture. The other chicks were fairly settled just now so I was able to notice he makes a small whoosh sound with each breath. Similar to if you were to exhale through pursed lips.

 

[Eggcessive]

It could be some sort of deformity in the sinus bones, but I have never seen that before. I would just make sure than it’s nostrils are open and not caked with food or secretions.

 

[k.bee]

Thanks for the help!! I'll keep a close eye on him.