Quick stupid question

[Mygirls20]

Ok... so I think I know the answer to this question but just wanted some advice. I just got some new chickens they are about 7-8 months old. I noticed today when I was guarding them while they were in their outdoor covered run that they had odd lumps on the front of their necks/chest. They are huge like the size of a racket ball and feel like bags of dry rice. The chickens have been eating none stop since I got them acting almost starved. So I am guessing that this is their food?!?!? Hoping it is and nothing weird. Again I know this is probably a stupid question but my year old chickens have never looked like this nor have I felt this on them so I just want to make sure that these new girls are alright

 

[Cebarmlds]

They must have been really hungry! the lumps are their crops full of food.

 

[emsdial911]

That is normal. The crop is an organ that is exclusive to bids. A crop's main function is to store food. It is like an extra storage tank for the bird. The crop is located at the base of the neck and can be easily seen after a bird has just eaten. If you have chickens, a sure way to tell if a bird is full is to look at the size of the crop. If the crop is large in size the bird is most likely full. If the crop is deflated and has a flat appearance the bird has not eaten yet. The crop continuously supplies small amounts of the food to the stomach.

P.S. NO question is stupid.

 

[gryeyes]

They may be stuffing themselves right now. Check again in the morning - their crops should be flatter / empty.

Sometimes I have a piggy hen or duck which nearly overbalance themselves from filling up but they're okay the next day, thankfully. You may be feeding them something different from their old home and they feel they must gorge so nobody takes it away from them.

I would not worry unless their crops are still full in the morning.

 

[Mygirls20]

That is normal. The crop is an organ that is exclusive to bids. A crop's main function is to store food. It is like an extra storage tank for the bird. The crop is located at the base of the neck and can be easily seen after a bird has just eaten. If you have chickens, a sure way to tell if a bird is full is to look at the size of the crop. If the crop is large in size the bird is most likely full. If the crop is deflated and has a flat appearance the bird has not eaten yet. The crop continuously supplies small amounts of the food to the stomach.

P.S. NO question is stupid.

ok thank you so much thats what I thought it was but just needed someone to tell me lol. My other chickens were older and more fluffy when I got them so I have never seen anything like that on them before. My new ones scared me they look so weird walking around it looks like they got a horrible boob job lol

 

[Mygirls20]

Well they lived with 30 other chickens, 6 geese and 10 turkeys I am guessing they didnt have food just laying around like my spoiled fat hens do. They have been non stop eating since I got them (and they look a little skinny) hoping they slow down soon I dont want them to get sick or something (dont know if that possible) when my dog eats to much he throws up thats why I mentioned the sick part

 

[Mygirls20]

They must have been really hungry! the lumps are their crops full of food.

Ya they are little piggies I think they eat ate a cup of food a piece when I first put them in their coop.

 

[Happy Chooks]

What emsdial said is correct. If they are looking thin, they may also have worms, which will also cause high food consumption. You may want to take a sample in, or worm them as a precaution.

 

[Mygirls20]

What emsdial said is correct. If they are looking thin, they may also have worms, which will also cause high food consumption. You may want to take a sample in, or worm them as a precaution.

The lady at my feed store said I could give chickens just a tiny amount of horse dewormer so I did that with all my chickens I hope that was ok?!?!

 

[Happy Chooks]

What wormer did you use? Ivermectin? I'm not sure of the dosage for the paste, but I've used ivomec topical and valbazen on my birds. Both are cattle wormers.