we bought 9 cornish chicks at our local tractor and supply store. They are about 4 1/2 weeks old and growing fast! We will be filling our freezer soon. But I noticed on almost all of them around their lower neck, something that looks like a small tumor. it does not seem to affect them. They seem fine. Also one breast seems much larger than the other one. They almost seem lop-sided. Are these normal characteristics of cornish, because of their rapid growth, or is something wrong?
I'm guessing that the "tumor" is their crop. About the disproportionate size of their breasts? I don't know.
My birds' breasts sometimes look different sizes when their crops are full. To see a pic of a chicken having actual crop surgery, to see how big they can get, click here . Not too graphic but I still, it is a surgery pic.
You are seeing a full crop. Search "tumors" and you will probably find many posts where people thought the same thing when they saw it.
WOW!! Thanks everyone! I am new to this and I feel relieved. I knew they were not acting sick. They certainly do know how to eat!! These 9 are going through about 8-9 pounds of feed and 2-3 gallons of water daily! They waddle to their feeder and lay down to eat and drink...Nap a while...then REPEAT!! LOL
You gotta be very careful about not allowing them to over eat or lay down and eat or drink. I always use hanging feeders and waterers because they need to stay active and work for their food. You also need to remove hanging feeders at dusk and replace in the morning. Feeders and waterers should be hanging at the heighth of their backs. Very important, they will eat until they break their own legs. They can easily eat themselves to death. I have 25 cornish and they only get about 5# of 24% protein poultry grower mash a day and some cracked corn scratch if its not to hot out. Yours may be over eating and they have to keep drinking to keep processing their feed. Try to implement a similar feeding schedule and you will notice the birds will get more active, the water consumption will decrease, coop will be cleaner,breasts even out and the end result will be better meat. The bumps on their back is it the wing joint? Birds can be huge with itty bitty wings and wing joints that look kinda gross when they're molting. Lol. Good luck with your meaties.
Robin'sBrood : My birds' breasts sometimes look different sizes when their crops are full. To see a pic of a chicken having actual crop surgery, to see how big they can get, click here . Not too graphic but I still, it is a surgery pic. Wow! That is huge thanks for the pic
