[dawnsmith]

Don't beginners ask the silliest questions!!
I've been a chicken keeper for a month now. My chickens have been eating baby food - thats what the man called it! but yesterday, as per his instructions we changed them onto layers pellets.
Today one of my hens has a huge lump on her chest. I'm guessing this is her 'crop' Is this because of the food change? Is she not digesting the pellets properly? Is this normal? Do I just leave it and see what happens?
- They realy shouldn't let beginners have hens should they :roll:
Thanks for your help.

[Foxy]

It does sound like her crop oh by the way there are no silly questions here!  
The crop should be at its fullest at the end of the day ,and empty when you let them out in the morning.Have a look first thing in the morning it should be empty. (This is because the contents of the crop  then move on to the chooks proper stomach.)If not is it squishy or hard? Can you detect any odour? Odour suggests that the contents of her crop are fermenting thus the odour. Hard may mean they have something stuck like long fibrous grass. Hope this helps I am sure you will have loads more advice!

[dawnsmith]

Hopefully it'll be gone in the morning then.
It is quite hard, but I'm confident it only appeared today.
Is there anything I should do in the morning if it's still there? Will she keep eating if it is a blockage?
It's very much to one side of her chest.
Thanks.

[Foxy]

Dont worry at this stage - it should be to one side of her breast thats quite normal! Some of my girls crops are quite large at the end of the day! Just give her a quick check in the morning and also how that looks compared to the other girls.

[peggyprice]

- They realy shouldn't let beginners have hens should they :roll:

If they didn't let us beginners begin there'd never be any non beginners to help us  

Don't worry - I've only been here a few weeks (though I skulked around for quite a while before then   ) and everyone is really helpful, really friendly and very patient.  Just don't ask a) what breed you should get next or b) whether to have a wooden shed or an Eglu ... you'll never hear the end of it  

Oh, and there is a law that you have to put up some pics of your chicks (  like that, might use it again   ) otherwise Aunt Sally and Babe come and beat you round the head with a bunch of chicken feathers ...

[dawnsmith]

Thanks then.
We'll see what the morning brings.
I didn't know about the piccy law - I'll keep my head low incase feathers come my way  

[Aunt Sally]

Well said Peggy - you've learnt fast  

[peggyprice]

At the feet of the master (mistress?), Aunty