swollen breast!?

[mylittlechickpea]

I noticed this last night, but I thought maybe her feathers just extra fluffed on that side, tonight when I pulled my chickie out to take a look at her I looked even bigger! Her chest looks and feels swollen on the right side. It looks like she got a breast implant or something. She is still happy chirpy and active, eating and drinking. She had some scrambled egg a few hours ago and has been drinking normally, I change her water twice a day and wash the whole container every afternoon. It's just her chest/breast area. should I take her to vet in the morning? She's only four weeks old.

 

[Kittymomma]

It's ok, that's just her crop. Your little girl probably made a little piggy out of herself right before bedtime. The food they eat is temporarly stored in the crop and then makes its way thru the gizzard and into the stomach. If it doesn't go down in the morning then it can be a problem, but that's pretty unlikely with a youngster like you have. What are you feeding her?

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

I agree...don't worry. Crops can get pretty big at times and that is what you are seeing

 

[mylittlechickpea]

She is on chick starter from the local feed store, and that egg that she had earlier. I was thinking of only giving her half the egg, but thought if she got full she'd stop eating? I guess not..

Thanks guys. I'll check on her in the morning to see if it's gone down. I wasn't worried at first because she was still happy chirpy and roaming around, but then I saw how big it was. Next time I'll only give her a little at a time.

I think it's the "new mom syndrome"

 

[Kittymomma]

Quote:

She'll be fine then, probably very happy and sleepy after her big treat. Just remember to give her some grit if you start giving her other treats. They don't need grit if they're just eating starter and eggs, but if you give her grapes or pasta or....she should have grit too.

 

[mylittlechickpea]

I give her spinach ever once in a while too, should I put some grit on the side just in case? When I take her in the back yard I don't worry so much when she eats the weeds because she sticks her face in the dirt and eats that too. Just waiting for the day she finds that slug back there and eats it for me

 

[Kittymomma]

Rule of thumb is that anything you would need teeth to eat they will need grit. I start the grit early though because I have a 9-year old that likes to give the chicks treats and I feel it's safer that way--who knows what he throws in there.....

 

[ScratchesWithChickens]

Quote:
My boyfriend and I call it the Food Boob.

But, yeah that's her full little crop! They sure do stuff themselves sometimes don't they? Sometimes it looks like they have a little bald spot cuz it's so full and stretched out.

I always provide the option of grit, even if I'm feeding them crumbles. Can't hurt, right?

 

[mylittlechickpea]

Thanlks everyone! I kept out her food last night and only gave her water, and her pam anderson breast seems tp have matched up with the other one now

 

[rachelbinnc]

It is normal for them to stuff themselves. Please do not limit her food intake -- chickens should always have free access to a food that is appropriate for their age. They are growing very fast and need the nutrients. Also, most of the crumble feed made for starting chicks has grit incorporated into it, so there isn't really need to give them grit until they get older. Good luck!