One of my hens has a protruding growth on one side of her breast. I remember reading somewhere that this can be caused by rubbing from the roosts. What should I do? Her wattles look pale (although I've heard they get pale if they are laying and mine are about to start laying eggs). I saw her laying down outside in the chicken run and thought she might by laying an egg--but decided no--I've never seen any of them lay down outside in the run. No other symptoms.Please advise.

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), August 25, 2001

Answers

Are you sure it is on her breast? Are you sure it is not her crop, thats on the lower neck? Have you felt of it to see if it is soft or hard? On some chickens they get their crop very full of food and almost look grossly deformed.

-- Russell Hays (rhays@sstelco.com), August 25, 2001.

I didn't know chickens will lay on the ground either but mine do.... almost on their sides out in the sun....thought the first one I saw was dead!! I guess they are just sunning themselves. When their crops are full, mine look like they have weird growths too.

-- Deb Foster (DFoster987@aol.com), August 25, 2001.

She is not eating or taking water now. Laying down alot. I guess this may be our first chicken death.

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), August 27, 2001.

Ok. I bought some cracked corn (their first big girl food) and she was up and pecking with the rest of them. This is my honkin/barking chicken if you remember from previous post. Vet thinks (from my description) that she has a neurological problem (barking) and non related tumor...not infectious.

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), August 27, 2001.