need help

[Anonymous]

i have three birds enclosed in a large pen in the back garden the whole family love the hens and they are such a joy to have yesterday i noticed that the pouch to the front right (cant think of the name) of one of the birds is enlarged and it looks like she has been rubbing the underside of this and has snapped some of the feathers am worried what can cause this as it still is enlarged still any advice or help in resolving this problem would be gratefully recieved

 

[podstable]

Could this just be a full crop in a moulting hen?? is the crop (if thats what it is) still full first thing in the morning.? Is she a well and happy hen or 'ill' ?Ros

 

[Anonymous]

she is still happy and lively but feathers look snapped as if she is rubbing against things i shall look tommorow to see if the crop is still full thanks for your help and advice any more shall be gratefully recieved as we are new to keeping hens they are about 9months old and have had them 6months

 

[podstable]

If she was crop bound-it still feels full before shes eating then she'd be likely to look 'ill'-off food,fluffed up etc If you have treated her for mites/lice etc and her skin seems healthy I doubt theres anything to worry about. If she seems 'ill' obviously thats a different matter.Ros

 

[Tim]

If it is a feather problem: She could be moulting, have others pecking feathers out or be pushing her head through a hole to reach something and causing feather loss / feathers to wear.

If you are concerned about a crop problem:
Pick her up before bed and feel her crop - it should be partially full. Do the same again in the morning before she eats, it should be empty.

My guess is it's part of a moult - they could be half grown feather stubs? They will look scruffy.