so about this crop thing...

[SuburbanSue]

how do you know if its the crop or breastbone? New to chickens and just lost one, worried about the others now. Please, any help.

I had put some Timothy hay spread out in their run to cover the mud with all this rain and I put a little in the nesting boxes with the pine shavings. Have been putting a little corn in their feed since its getting colder. After reading about the timothy hay I took it out of the nesting boxes but it's still in the run, soaking wet with rain. Please give me some insight if you have it.

thanks!

 

[florida lee]

I use regular coastal hay in my nest boxes. Never had a problem with it.
the crop is above the breast bone and is soft. When the chicken has eaten a big meal you may be able to see it, will look like a pouch hanging down in the front between the neck and breast bone. You can feel it,it will feel soft even squishy depending on what is en there. In the morning before they eat it should be empty and you probably can't see it.
I can't see the crop most of the time on most of my chickens, however I have a EE who is loves to eat and her crop is always hanging down. I worried about it for a while then finally realized that it is normal for her.
If the crop feels hard then I would worry about it.