Hen with a lump

addiedunn

Songster
11 Years
Oct 12, 2008
520
12
164
Martinsville, IN
My favorite hen has developed a lump on her right breast. It wasn't there two days ago and today it looks huge. About the size of an egg. I felt it and it's kind of fatty feeling. And I've included pics but you can't see it as well in these. But it's so big for not having been there a couple of days ago. Any suggestions?
Why is it always the favorite?

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Your hen has eaten enough to fill her crop. She'll have enough food in her system to get her through the night. Tomorrow she'll do it again.

Nothing to worry about. This is normal chicken anatomy.
 
If you check first thing in the morning it should be gone. She had a good day of foraging and eating. A beautiful hen.

Edited to say... they will all fill their crop during the day but sometimes the crop gets full and looks like it is off to the side so it alarms people. No worries.
 
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I'm relatively new to raising chickens, and I thought my favorite - Lucy - had something wrong with her when she was actually filling her crop. After a few days' observation, though, I watched it fill up during the day and then be empty by morning. I still wonder sometimes if they overstuff themselves because those crops can get big! If it's not the crop, let us know. Thanks.
 
That looks too low to be the crop. The crop is usually found on the left above the pectoral muscles. It might just be the angle of the photo though. Either way, if she's not getting worse, she's probably fine. Take her food away for an hour, if the lump goes away then you know it's the crop.
 

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