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I have 8 ex-bats, got them in February this year, they are now fully feathered, laying well and full of personality

However, I have noticed that one in particular most of the time, and a couple of others at times, have a very swollen area on the front of their 'breast', off to one side. It is soft and malleable, doesnt seem to bother them and comes and goes to some extent.

From what I have been able to find out it is the crop just full of food, but is it normal to be so swollen so much of the time ?

I am not about to take any of them to the vets, more looking for reassurance and maybe some suggestions of any natural remedies if needed ?

Thanks

Sarah, have a good look at them in the morning... the lumps will almost be totally gone, right?
Then feed them & watch it grow!
You're right, it's just the crop & can be quite scary if you don't know how a chooks body works!
The crop is the holding cell for the foodstuff before it passes down & can get very large at times, especially if you have chooks crossed with gannets like mine! It's situated just where your adams apple is, if you like - nothing to worry about at all - now relax

Thanks Julie, I was just concerned as it seems to be a lot more consistent and pronounced, particularly on this one chook [Gert !] I had read about various crop problems and was worried it might have gone slack or something.

Sometimes, our ducks look like a backwards hunchback, I swear!! I thought, stupidly, that they would tackle the ground elder around the banks.... I was wrong!
Mind, the turkeys love it, but as they in a pen, I have to go & pull it up fpr them... oh well, it's not as bad as last year - yet!

Just keep an eye on their crops, Sarah - if they feel fairly malleable, that's a good sign. Altho, there will always be the one that goes against the rules - one of my hybrids feels like she eats housebricks, but she's always been that way, so I leave her be.

I think sometimes the best way is to use your common sense - you see them every day, so if there are warning bells going off in your head, keep a watchful eye.