jan_novice_chicken_keeper Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 Help! Dotty, my speckledy hen, has a large swelling on her breast on one side. When giving her a cuddle late tonight when I checked they were all settled for the night, I noticed it for the first time. It is large (small apple sized) and distinct, but not hot and with no sign of pus or discharge. The skin is very red over part of it, but not broken. (She has just got over being broody and had plucked part of her breast so it is easy to see some of the skin.) She seems fine in herself and seems to be laying fine, although I can not be certain - one of my hens is laying soft-shelled eggs at the moment, but I am pretty sure it is not Dotty as we got a couple whilst she was broody and she does not normally lay at all when broody). She is alert, behaving normally and very friendly, just as usual. She did not mind me touching the lump. Has anyone else seen anything similar? I have not found anything useful in my chicken books, and I am very worried about her. She is a real character, and we just adore her. I see in the Wiki there is a vet on the list that is very near us (I presume this means that someone has used them for their chickens and recomended them?), and I will happily take her if necessary, but I am worried about stressing her unnecessarily by packing her in a box etc. Sorry this is long, J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaPoule Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 I panicked about this the first time I came across it too! It sounds like she has a full crop - the crop fills up with food and then the food is broken down by stomach acids and grit. It should be gone by morning. If you check your other chickens, they should have it too. Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 the first time I saw big red like that was un-nerving to say the least she looks like she sollowed a tennis ball by tea time bur cyclone who eats like food is going out of fashion hard shows a 'lump' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 Nothing to worry about....especially if it has vanished overnight. Definitely sounds like a full crop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jan_novice_chicken_keeper Posted July 14, 2009 Author Share Posted July 14, 2009 Thank you so much. I feel a bit daft now, but I really was worried. Thank you again. J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 Thank you so much. I feel a bit daft now, but I really was worried. Thank you again. J northing to feel daft about better to ask a daft question than not ask at all then regret it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 Don't worry my daughter thought her chicken had a tumour when we first had our chickens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 nah... not daft, reckon lots of us have thought it. I told someone that mine had deformed breasts whenI had them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jan_novice_chicken_keeper Posted July 14, 2009 Author Share Posted July 14, 2009 I did worry about a tumour.... I can't believe it has taken me 2 years to notice this Perhaps Dotty had been especially greedy last night! Jan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 tee hee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moominlynne Posted April 15, 2020 Share Posted April 15, 2020 Oh my GOODNESS. So glad to read all the above! Ive just seen it on one of my girls and immediately thought tumor!! I'll see how she is in the morning...evening here now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
