What is a crop?

Hens have no teeth and so food is held in a pouch on their neck/chest called a crop, where it is ground up before passing to their stomach. As some ex bats have few feathers, the crop can be visible, especially when it is full of food and swollen. This may look like a 'lump' or 'growth' and has in the past alarmed first time chicken keepers, please be assured it is entirely normal!