Please help!

[nribs]

Hi we have 4 chickens, one is a Sussex buff and I'm worried about her. She hasn't been herself for a couple of days roosting in the nesting box a lot of the time. Today I noticed that she has a large lump on the front of her neck, slightly to her right. Her feathers covering her breast area are wet from nesting rather than walking about which is why her lump became noticeable today. This chicken is the bottom of the pecking order, so I brought her out on her own tonight after they had gone into the house for the night, and she is eatin and drinking ok.
I am just worried this lump is something really wrong and the fact that she hasn't really been out much isn't like her.
Thanks

[sheena]

Don't panic, it sounds like she's got an impacted crop.

I've not encountered this myself yet, but have read about it.
I can't be sure of the right treatment, but i'm sure one of the more experienced chook eggsperts will be able to guide you better.

You've done the right thing by bringing her away from the other's, they would of detected that she was under the weather and it could of been a lot worse.

But please do try and keep your cool, she should be ok with a bit of tlc x

[RichmondHens]

If she is eating and drinking ok then it's unlikely to be an impacted crop. Are you sure what you are seeing is not just a full crop.

The crop should be nice and full at the end of the day and small/empty in the morning when you let her out. If this is the case then there is nothing wrong with it.

Maybe she is in the nestbox more because she is going broody! Is she losing breast feathers? Is she squealing and running away from the other chickens? Sussexes are well known for their broodiness so you could be worrying over nothing.

[nribs]

yes! She has lost all the feathers down her breast bone! Although you only see that when you pick her up. She came out this morning and I could still see thelump but not sure if it has changed in size since last night. She's still walking around ok and still eating and drinking, but straight back to nesting box when finished. She's poo'd ok too. If she is broody do I do anything different?
Looked like she was trying to pull feathers out a little this morning. Isn't running from other chickens, but from me, but that has always been the case as she is the shyest chook and doesn't really like being handled at any point, only tolerates it!
Thanks for your help.

[Suechooks]

Sounds broody. You'll find lots of ways of dealing with broodiness if you search the forum - depending whether you want her to hatch any chicks or not !

[sheena]

Don't panic, it sounds like she's got an impacted crop.

I've not encountered this myself yet, but have read about it.
x

Hence why I said wait for someone to come along and help, cos I didn't see broody coming either.

Off to the naughty corner I go

[Nicos]

Ha!- I have 5 suddenly gone broody- one laying soft shelled eggs and one 'normal' chook at the moment- just as we're going to need lots of eggs for our visitors!!!!

[Suechooks]

Ha!- I have 5 suddenly gone broody- one laying soft shelled eggs and one 'normal' chook at the moment- just as we're going to need lots of eggs for our visitors!!!!

And I'm overrun with eggs! OH not at work so quite a few customers there and am looking after someone's Light Sussex so have a tray of fertile Sussex eggs as well!

[RichmondHens]

Ditto Sue! Had a build up over half term (didn't get to do my usual school run sales) and ended up cooking them and feeding back to the hens. Still, there are various events coming up which require cakes so I'll get through a fair few now with all the baking.

I've also frozen a load for use over winter, but now need to leave room for other stuff.

[sheena]

I'm sooo gutted that you guys have an abundance of eggs, and broody's!

Struggling to get the eggs to fulfil my regular orders (36 a week), but only getting 3-4 eggs a day it's impossible (out of 8 girl's).

I'd love for one of them go broody but don't look likely being ex-batts an all

[jessmorris]

How do you freeze eggs then? I'm getting up to 30 a week from my lot at the moment and would love to keep some for the winter!

[Suechooks]

How do you freeze eggs then? I'm getting up to 30 a week from my lot at the moment and would love to keep some for the winter!

I think you separate the yolks and whites and beat them and freeze - separately obviously!

[RichmondHens]

How do you freeze eggs then? I'm getting up to 30 a week from my lot at the moment and would love to keep some for the winter!

Break as many eggs as you would normally use in one hit, eg. 3 for a cake, 6 for a quiche or whatever, then beat and pour into a freezable container. I use little plastic tubs and once frozen I ease the egg blocks out and put them in a larger container then wash the little tubs and use again. This way I have blocks of eggs in ready measured quantities which I can just defrost (at room temp - as a rough guide 3 eggs take about 3 hours to defrost in my kitchen) and they are ready for use.

You can also use ice cube trays - each square takes roughly one beaten egg.

[frias]

Oh to have enough eggs to freeze. Not enough for our needs at the mo and can't even find some new hens!

[jessmorris]

Brilliant! Thankyou (for freezing instructions). Mine didn't lay so well last year but seem to have got into the swing of it this year - they appear to each lay every other day. Had a weeny egg last week tho'.