HELP!! Picked up two new chickens today, both with large hard lumps on the right side of their breas

chickenewbiemia

Hatching
Aug 1, 2015
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Hi!
We have twelve 3-4 month old chickens in a big coup in our backyard and they are GREAT but they aren't laying yet so today I picked up two hens that someone was selling on craigslist for 10$. The woman said they were one or two years old and that they lay everyday. When I brought them home I realized they both have big hard lumps on the right sides of their breasts. The RIR's lump is HUGE and very visible when walking around. They are also pretty small, and their feathers are rough and not very soft. After petting one of my 4 month of chickens and then petting one of the new ones, the difference between their feathers is startling.

Maybe they were not being well taken care of?

What if they are much older than she said they were?

I read that the lump is their crop, and that it could be blocked. I put a bunch of grit into their coup after reading that but I don't know... the RIR's is seriously huge and hard. I'm worried that I just bought two old and sick chickens. What if they get my young perfect ones sick? HELP!
 
Completely normal. The feed collects in the croup so you get the large lump. As they sleep and aren't constantly refilling it, it will go down. You'll see it when you let them out in the morning. A hard working (laying) hen should look rougher than a pullet. The pullet has new feathers. A little extra protein wouldn't hurt the older hens.
 
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Ah thank you so much! So helpful! I'll make sure it's smaller tomorrow morning. What kind of protein should I give them?
 
I'm so thankful to read this. I have 3 hens and 8 months old. While hanging wirh them and cleaning their coop I noticed 2 of them had large lumps on their right breasts. I've been traveling for a week and their momma (my 11 year old daughter) had been tending to them as she promised and did so well. She gave them raw treats at night when tucking them in every night. Today I gave them some leftover rice and tomatoes and noticed lumps on 2 of the hens right breasts. While they were getting in the coop for the night, and more docile, I was able to feel the lumps and they were soft. I'll put grit out for them for the morning.

I'll tell ya, my heart sank. I'll be keeping a close eye on them this week. It's amazing how much we love those girls. We don't even eat chicken anymore around here!! Well, except my husband. Ha!

Thank you!
 
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Our girls.... :)
 

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