What is a full crop?

[californiachick74]

Can anyone explain to me what the term full crop means? Thx!

 

[WriterofWords]

I don't know either, I'm hoping someone tells you soon so I'll learn too!
Kate

 

[rooster-red]

The crop is part of the diguestive tract of a chicken, when it is full you will see a large lump just off to the chickens right side breast.

 

[WriterofWords]

Is it extremely visible? If a chicken has a lot of feathers or is a Silkie breed how would you see it? Is it dangerous?

 

[silkiechicken]

A full crop is just that. A chicken's crop which is full of food or stuff they ingested. It is on the front of the bird and nothing is wrong with it as long as it emptys out by morning. Think of it like a storage place for goods till the rest of the digestive tract empties to make room for it go pass though and get digested.

This one is cute, even has feed in it!

It is on the front of a bird and can easily be the size of a baseball when full... or softball if impacted and stretched out. When empty you can only feel the "wishbone" or clavicle of the bird in front of the keel and no ball of food.

 

[WriterofWords]

And will I be printing that at school tomorrow?? Yes I will! Thank you so much! And thanks to CaliforniaChick for asking the question I had too!

 

[californiachick74]

Thank you! I removed her food for the night and gave her only water. I also put a towel down under her because she has started to eat the pine shavings. Does anyone have any idea why she would do this? This morning when I got up to go check on her and feed her I noticed the cyst or lump is almost gone. Very small now and gushy. So it was her crop. Thanks!

 

[d.k]

* Yep, it's a little like the pouches in a hamster's cheeks that they stuff full with food. Kinda still shocks me when Miss Chook stuffs that thing to the size AND FIRMNESS of a handball!!!!

 

[buttercuplover]

Yes my chickens have full crops too, is that a bad thing?

 

[pgpoultry]

The crop should be empty in the morning (provided they your chickens do not have access to food overnight). Once they have demolished half the contents of the grain feeder, the effects are obvious in the crop being swollen with food (this is normal).

My chickens free range so have full crops all day, but, provided they are healthy, the crop is not palpable or visible the following morning,

sandie