chicken crops very large/hard every night then fine every morning

[AEJEfarm]

so this has happened the last 5 or 6 days in a row. When I put them to sleep/lock them in the coop around 7pm, their crop is large and quite hard. the first night, I was ready to remove food and give them just water, but every morning the crop goes back to normal. that being said, it has been happening (just to my RIR hens) every day for the last week. any thoughts why it would be happening every day and why so suddenly? They are given layer pellets at will and half a medium ball jar of scratch per day (for 5 hens). any help would be appreciated.

 

[animalgrl]

They eat a lot before going to the roost since they don't eat at night. Maybe your RIRs are gorging more before bedtime than your others, but as long as their crops are back to normal by morning, it probably isn't anything to worry about.