9 mo old hen with lump on her breast and feather loss_HELP

[samuels]

I have 8 hens--all brown egg layers and doing well. One of the girls has developed a lump about the size of a ping pong ball on one side of her breast. Also, I think she is losing feathers around her vent area. She eats well and acts fine. Am worried about her---and the rest of the flock. Do I need to destroy her or ?? First year at this chicken business so need help=-------Thanks alot. Larry

 

[Tuffoldhen]

Are you sure it's not her crop?... Her crop is where her feed goes to like a persons stomach, all your chickens have a crop sometimes their just more noticeable after they eat alot...if she is eating well and acting ok it might be your just seeing her crop for the first time........vent feathers might mean mites or lice or someone picking at her...

 

[samuels]

I don't think its her crop. This is a couple inches below where her neck meets her body. Only on one side. Have never noticed any of the other birds with this?

 

[BlueMoon]

That sounds like her crop. Also, are you sure she's not moulting?

 

[speckledhen]

I agree, that sounds like her crop, plus molting. They do get bare bottoms, necks, chests, backs, etc, and can look pretty pitiful till the feathers grow back.

 

[arlee453]

I agree with the others re: crop and moulting.

A pic might help make a positive ID on the moulting vs other potential problems though...

 

[BlueMoon]

Crop is on the right side of the bird and you can gently massage it to help her process her last meal. You may also see it get smaller after a big poo.

 

[samuels]

I want to thank everyone who posted to my question. I checked my hen this morning carefully before I fed the girls and, yes, her lump is down. Guess I should have known if was her crop but. . . . Anyway, thanks again----this is sure a wonderful site for a beginner like me. Larry