cornish cross question

[Statix653]

My cornish cross pullets are about 4 weeks old and I have been noticing that all of them have a swollen growth around the base of their necks. It looks like a big soft golf ball sitting on one side of the neck (on top of the wishbone) and is on every one of them. Anyone know what that is? It is not painful to them because when I handle them to investigate they don't complain and I can even touch it. None of the other twenty pullets and roos have them, I just wanted to be sure that they aren't sick or something.

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

that's the gullett. it's full of feed and water.

 

[Dogfish]

gullet, craw, crop. It is where they store their food before they process it through the gizzard and intestines. They don't have a stomach, so they store food there and then forward it on until it becomes a mass of stinky poop.