Um, this is either an emergency or totally normal...

[Patoot]

So I was putting up the girls for the night and Hennie jumped up next to me so I picked her up. I noticed she had a lump on her neck. I don't usually pick them up at night so this could be something that's there at night, but it freaked me out. It felt like she had swallowed a softball and it was slightly to the right. Is this her crop? For reference I picked up another one and she had something similar, but much, much smaller. Please tell me this is just what a crop feels like when it's full and it's normal. Thanks!

Bree

 

[canada-goose]

It's probably normal. Try smelling her breath though, if the smell nearly makes you sick, it might be impacted crop.

 

[sheila3935]

Hennie just got through eating alot. My girls crops are always large at night

 

[myfivegirls]

Yup. That's their crop. It varies how big it is from chicken to chicken, depending on how much they just ate.

 

[Patoot]

Okay thanks. I never knew what a crop was until I came here. I assumed it was that, but I wanted to make sure. My she is a little piggy. I will check it in the morning to make sure it's okay, but I think that was it. I'm a paranoid new mother.

Bree

 

[Country4ever]

Bree......I thought the same thing when I first got chickens! I thought it was a tumor and got really upset.
I loved the title of your post "this is either an emergency or totally normal".

My chickens eat right when they get up too, so if her crop is still big in the morning....you might feel it a little later in the morning.

 

[Patoot]

Okay, all clear this morning! Guess it's just me learning about chickens and normal stuff. Thanks!

Bree

 

[Buff Hooligans]

Quote:
Yay! Piggy chickens.

 

[gryeyes]

Oh, I so remember thinking one of my chicks had a tumor in its neck! Luckily, I also posted on BYC and was reassured by members! And in the morning, allll better, just like they said. Whew!

Thank goodness for BYC. I would have had SUCH a more tumultuous experience raising and keeping my chickens!!!!

 

[Liamm_1]

ok, this must be what I felt when my chicks were about a month old. I thought it was a tumor, near the top of the breast area, figured they're just bony and need to develop still.