Lump on my chickens neck

[wndytyme]

Hello there! We have 3 chickens that are roughly 11 weeks old. We noticed today the one has an unusual hard lump on her neck. About the size of a Ping pong ball. She isn't distressed or indicating she's in any pain. Have any of you run into this?

 

[welasharon]

I found one on my hen this week. I am headed out of town for a few days. Upon my return I am going to have the traveling vet come out. I have that one and one with bumble foot that need assistance. Will try to remember to let you know what she says.

 

[wndytyme]

Thank you for responding. And yes, please update me after.

 

[Griffinsong]

Hello there! We have 3 chickens that are roughly 11 weeks old. We noticed today the one has an unusual hard lump on her neck. About the size of a Ping pong ball. She isn't distressed or indicating she's in any pain. Have any of you run into this?

Is it at the base of the neck, a little over to the right side? If so, you might be seeing the crop, which is an organ in the upper chest/lower neck area, which stores food before it goes down the digestive tract. it can be pretty hard when full, and is often alarming to new chicken owners when first noticed. Its possible that particular chick just pigged out on food and the crop became noticably distended due to the food.

If it is the crop, it should go down in the morning, as it empties out overnight. If it does not go down you may want to look into 'crop impaction' on this forum. Sometimes they get plugged up and the food won't move through very well.

 

[wndytyme]

Thank you for the information! What's interesting is that my husband told me when he went to feel it the 2nd time a bit later it felt smaller than from when he first felt it. We are both thinking this is what it must be. We will check it in the morning, thank you so much!!!

 

[welasharon]

Mine is on the back of the neck just below her skull. It is a cyst of some sort and very firm. Yes the crop in on the chest area. Kinda freaky. One of my hens swallowed a frog whole and you could see it jumping inside. Gross to watch but she was happy.

 

[artsygirl]

Oh good to know what it is. Felt it on all my chicks and kind of thought it was something like this, as my husband suggested it might be. They like their food a lot!!

 

[wndytyme]

That was definitely what it was.... the "crop". Lump was gone in the morning. So much to learn still!!!