I have a speckled Sussex hen that has a clearly impacted Crop. It is about slightly smaller than a tennis ball. It doesn't go up and down, stays the same size. Everything I have read up on this says the hen will act like a sick hen. My girl doesn't. She is my biggest pig, the most rambunctious of the flock and is the first and last to be eating. She doesn't smell like a sour crop has formed yet and has zero lethargic behaviors. So I was wondering if anyone has had this happen before where the hen can still eat and function normal just always have a full crop?
Welcome to BYC. The crop fills up gradually during the day with food and water. Then normally, it empties overnight before they start eating again, unless there is a problem with the crop such as a disease or tumors. Coccidiosis and Mareks disease among others are common causes of crops not functioning well. A fat overeating hen may develop an overstretched crop called pendulous crop which always looks big. I would check her crop first thing in the morning. Here are some links to read for information: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/impacted-slow-and-sour-crops-prevention-and-treatments http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/04/answers-from-chicken-vet-on-impacted.html http://www.tillysnest.com/2012/01/crop-issues-html/
