Why does my Australorp have such a big crop?

[legit chickens]

My Australorp has a pretty big crop. It is way bigger than the other chickens. Does it look normal to you guys don't know much about these kinds of things.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

My Australorp has a pretty big crop. It is way bigger than the other chickens. Does it look normal to you guys don't know much about these kinds of things.

It looks like she a good eater!
Sometimes one will eat more than the others and look like that. Crops should go up and down over the day as they eat/drink/poop.

If you are concerned that the crop is not functioning correctly, check her at bedtime and them first thing in the am.
Nighttime it should be full or most fully - first thing in the morning it should be empty or nearly empty.


Here's some info on what a normal crop is like and what problems you may see.
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2014/06/chicken-anatomy-crop-impacted-crop-sour.html

 

[FiddleChics]

Wow! Thank you @legit chickens - for the photo! I've got the SAME concern with my Australorp, she has an unusually large crop by late afternoon... and it's much bigger than my Reds, or Orpingtons. The Australorp let me pick her up, and I could feel her crop... which was (as my son described it) like a stress ball... malleable, and somewhat soft. I can feel the grit, crumble, grass & stuff - inside.
At one point however, one morning - it seemed unusually large when she came out in the morning and not so soft as it usually is... so I gave her a little bit of olive oil and massaged her. Then, I held her against me, like a football, massaging her crop, and I tipped her upside down for about 8-10 seconds and she threw up. You can't stay upside down with them long because they can choke... but it did help her quite a bit, and her crop went down to almost a normal size. There's a few good videos on youtube (yet there are some that are just horrible) on this topic - but this video (link below), shows how to gently do this... and I found it very helpful.
Then... a little plain yogurt as a snack, and add a TBSP of ACV in a gallon of water for them to drink.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Wow! Thank you @legit chickens - for the photo! I've got the SAME concern with my Australorp, she has an unusually large crop by late afternoon... and it's much bigger than my Reds, or Orpingtons. The Australorp let me pick her up, and I could feel her crop... which was (as my son described it) like a stress ball... malleable, and somewhat soft. I can feel the grit, crumble, grass & stuff - inside.
At one point however, one morning - it seemed unusually large when she came out in the morning and not so soft as it usually is... so I gave her a little bit of olive oil and massaged her. Then, I held her against me, like a football, massaging her crop, and I tipped her upside down for about 8-10 seconds and she threw up. You can't stay upside down with them long because they can choke... but it did help her quite a bit, and her crop went down to almost a normal size. There's a few good videos on youtube (yet there are some that are just horrible) on this topic - but this video (link below), shows how to gently do this... and I found it very helpful.

How is your Australorp now? Is her crop empty in the mornings before she eats/drinks?
The very best time to check crop function is in the morning since during the day a crop is going to be at various levels of fullness/hardness due to eating and drinking all day.

A chronic crop problem can be a symptom of an underlying condition like worms, coccidiosis, infection and reproductive disorders. If you have a hard time keeping the crop cleared or the problem continues, then getting a fecal float is always a good idea.

Here's a couple of very good articles you may find helpful:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/impacted-slow-and-sour-crops-prevention-and-treatments

 

[FiddleChics]

Not sure @Whorp Rock - if you're asking me... but yes, my Australorp is generally all slim & trim in the morning when she comes out of the coop for the day. It's by the end of the day, before I put them in - that I notice she's a bit bigger crop thank the other girls. It was only once I noticed her come out with the large crop in the morning, and we did the throwing up thing... Also, she's pooping some solid matter, but there's a little more liquid than I'd like to see, but we're also in a terrible heat spell... which usually makes everyone's poop more liquid because they intake more water... but this is on my radar because it's not as 'normal' - as the other girls.
I can isolate her and get a fecal sample - but I have no idea where I'd take the sample for a fecal float? No vets around here do chicken stuff... sadly.
She's very perky in nature, tail up, strutting about and curious, clucking, friendly, eating and laying about 5 eggs a week... So her behavior isn't seeming to be odd... Those were some great links... thanks, they're very informative... good to keep in the references!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Not sure @Whorp Rock - if you're asking me... but yes, my Australorp is generally all slim & trim in the morning when she comes out of the coop for the day. It's by the end of the day, before I put them in - that I notice she's a bit bigger crop thank the other girls. It was only once I noticed her come out with the large crop in the morning, and we did the throwing up thing... Also, she's pooping some solid matter, but there's a little more liquid than I'd like to see, but we're also in a terrible heat spell...
She's very perky in nature, tail up, strutting about and curious, clucking, friendly, eating and laying about 5 eggs a week... So her behavior isn't seeming to be odd... Those were some great links... thanks, they're very informative... good to keep in the references!

It sounds like she is doing good! She should have a full crop at night, if it's empty by morning, she's fine. It is very hard to compare one hen's crop to another, they each eat and or need different amounts of food. It takes a lot of energy to lay eggs, she's laying 5 a week, so she needs fuel. I have a White Leghorn that has laid an egg a day for over a year, she looks like she goes to bed with a grapefruit in her crop every night, HUGE, it's empty every morning - she needs that energy to give me that egg! I have other LF hens that only lay around 3 eggs a week, they go to bed with enough food, but there is no comparison between her and the "big" girls.

 

[FiddleChics]

@Wyorp Rock - That makes total & complete sense! Thank you for putting this into perspective! I did worry that one particular day - when her crop was still large in the morning... but I isolated her, and a little TLC, olive oil & gentle massage & her crop went back to her normal, by morning. She's great now.
Honestly - I think it's my being relatively new to the chicken world... that when new issues "crop up" (pardon the pun) haha... I tend to get a bit anxious. One of my greatest fears with the chicks - is that I'll cause them harm... due to my lack of knowledge or ignorance. I researched for a good 2 years before I built the coop or got the chicks, so I knew what I was in for. I've had horses for 25 years... so I'm more than use to the 'medical stuff' happening - but chickens are a whole new, interesting - ball of wax!!!
The one thing I never, ever expected... was that I'd love them so much... and I'm amazed at their beautiful personalities, & how loving, giving, appreciative & curious they are! <3 I'm just so glad I got them!