Chickens not laying / lump on chest???

[cometmars]

My husband and I have 5 hens and 1 rooster that are over a year old. We have only had them for a few months, and they seemed to adjust well to their new home and were laying 3-5 eggs a day. For the past two weeks, we are lucky to get 1-2 a day. I have noticed a lump on the chest of two of the hens. All of them seem to be moulting, but this was happening before we even had them and did not seem to be a problem before. If anyone knows what this might be, please let us know.

 

[chicmom]

Well, the lump on their chest might just be the crop (where the food goes). It looks lumpier when they've been eating. This would probably be more noticeable when they're molting. Molting does cause chickens to quit laying for a while, because they need their energy and nutrition to produce new feathers. I'll bet things are just fine. You might think about giving them some extra protein in their diet during the molt, although you don't have to.

Also, if it's super hot, like it has been here in Ohio, sometimes that can affect egg production. It's been in the high 90s and even 100 occasionally here......

Take care and enjoy the summer,
Sharon

 

[cometmars]

Sharon,

Thank you for your response. I agree that it is probably crop (I did some more research this morning). I will try adding more protein to their diet. It also has been fairly hot, between 80's and 90's but not as severe as you have been experiencing.

Thank you again, and stay cool!
Katie