Dog attacked hen. Swollen round protrusion on breast. Help.

[eddy]

I came home to find our dog mauling one of our hens last night. She was alive when I got home with no serious wounds -- just a lot of feathers missing and some very raw/nearly bloody spots. Checked on her this morning and she had a large growth on her left breast -- a round protrusion about the size of a golf ball. She was acting fine. Anyone know what the protrusion is?

Thanks.

 

[speckledhen]

If she's eating, could be her crop full of food.

 

[Cetawin]

That sounds like a full crop which would mean she is eating.

 

[elmo]

Isn't the crop usually on the right side? I wonder if the dog mauling may have caused internal injuries.

 

[eddy]

Full crop makes the most sense. I'll have to confess to never knowing that the crop can become visible. It's always been obscured by feathers. Thanks.