Tumor or abscess? *****Update*****

Mama Hen Chris

Songster
9 Years
Aug 24, 2010
1,789
138
221
Peoria, AZ
I was checking my girls over tonight and found some mites and eggs on one gal so I thought I best bathe her and then dust her. I thought maybe that is why my LO was loosing weight and not very active. I did find a mite on her. It is hard to go through all her fluff. Decided just to go ahead and bathe her bottom like I did prior. I decided maybe I should bathe her whole body and when I got to her neck I found this tumor or abscess. I am stumped as I have checked her neck not too long ago and never saw this. ( I feel like a bad chicken mama- I told her I was sorry and I was seeking help) No wonder she has been feeling poorly.

I appreciate any expertise or advice from anyone. Thank you.


1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
Iris is an 11 month old Lavender Orpington and weighs about 3 lbs.

2) What is the behavior, exactly.
She has been lethargic and naps quite a bit.

3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
A couple of weeks.

4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
No

5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
No

6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
I do not know.

7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
She has been eating her layer crumbles and water. Also, she and the girls get a "mixed green salad and BOSS"

8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
Normal to loose but not runny.

9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
Nothing

10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
What can I do now, if anything, for her as I will call my vet in the morning.

11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
Yes

12) Describe the housing/bedding in use

The coop has a sand floor over linoleum that gets scooped every morning. The nest boxes are excelsior nesting material.



 
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I'm so sorry about that abscess. I have never dealt with it, but reading your description of mites, make sure to dust the coop also. Clean it out well and hose it down, dust the corners and the laying box especially. My solution to destroying mites is Adam's Flea spray for dogs and cats.

I've had a rooster with mites and had a huge scab behind his head, but it wasn't like that. I'm sorry I can't help more.
 
I totally am not an expert, but that does make me think of Bumble Foot, which is a staph infection. It makes a large growth puss filled growth, usually with a dark center. It can spread from the feet to other parts of the body. I assume a staph infection could start anywhere if there had been a previous injury. We had to do surgery on ours and then called the vet. He gave us antibiotics to put in the water and had us give to the whole flock. Check her feet for a lump with a dark center and call the vet. I may be way off track, but that is what first came to mind. Good luck. She is a pretty girl. Hope she is feeling better soon!
 
I'm so sorry about that abscess. I have never dealt with it, but reading your description of mites, make sure to dust the coop also. Clean it out well and hose it down, dust the corners and the laying box especially. My solution to destroying mites is Adam's Flea spray for dogs and cats.

I've had a rooster with mites and had a huge scab behind his head, but it wasn't like that. I'm sorry I can't help more.

Okay, just to clarify, are you spraying it on chickens or the coop, or both? Is it effective for lice as well? Is it safe to eat their eggs while being treated? I am having a heck of a time getting rid of whatever is causing itching, redness and feather loss. I haven't seen mites (treat the coop regularly) but that doesn't prove anything and have not seen lice for awhile, but the symptoms persist.
 
Wow..that's just ugly. Poor thing. If it were me.... I'd try to open that thing up and see if anything comes out. Depending on what I found, if it's pus filled, or goo of any kind, I'd be giving her penicillin injections. If it's a solid mass - then I'd do more research. Wish I could help more.
 
Both, there's no way you can get rid of mites if you don't spray the place where they come from! It is effective for lice also. It is safe to consume their eggs. It's not going to be internally, just externally. If the chicken has mites on her butt, it can get raw there and when you spray there it can cause her pain, but it will wear off. I had to do it to a broody and she recovered in a few minutes.

Okay, just to clarify, are you spraying it on chickens or the coop, or both? Is it effective for lice as well? Is it safe to eat their eggs while being treated? I am having a heck of a time getting rid of whatever is causing itching, redness and feather loss. I haven't seen mites (treat the coop regularly) but that doesn't prove anything and have not seen lice for awhile, but the symptoms persist.
 
I'm so sorry about that abscess. I have never dealt with it, but reading your description of mites, make sure to dust the coop also. Clean it out well and hose it down, dust the corners and the laying box especially. My solution to destroying mites is Adam's Flea spray for dogs and cats.

I've had a rooster with mites and had a huge scab behind his head, but it wasn't like that. I'm sorry I can't help more.

Thank you. I dusted all my girls tonight and will do the coop in the morning as they have all gone to bed for the night.
 
I totally am not an expert, but that does make me think of Bumble Foot, which is a staph infection. It makes a large growth puss filled growth, usually with a dark center. It can spread from the feet to other parts of the body. I assume a staph infection could start anywhere if there had been a previous injury. We had to do surgery on ours and then called the vet. He gave us antibiotics to put in the water and had us give to the whole flock. Check her feet for a lump with a dark center and call the vet. I may be way off track, but that is what first came to mind. Good luck. She is a pretty girl. Hope she is feeling better soon!

Great suggestion as that is what my daughter thought. I haven't checked her feet but I did have one gal with bumble foot last year. Will keep everyone posted.
 
Both, there's no way you can get rid of mites if you don't spray the place where they come from! It is effective for lice also. It is safe to consume their eggs. It's not going to be internally, just externally. If the chicken has mites on her butt, it can get raw there and when you spray there it can cause her pain, but it will wear off. I had to do it to a broody and she recovered in a few minutes.

I will buy that! I love BYCers. Everyone has great info to pass along.
 
Wow..that's just ugly. Poor thing. If it were me.... I'd try to open that thing up and see if anything comes out. Depending on what I found, if it's pus filled, or goo of any kind, I'd be giving her penicillin injections. If it's a solid mass - then I'd do more research. Wish I could help more.

I think I will leave it up to my vet. Once he shows me how to do things properly, I have no problem after that. He showed me how to tube another chicken when she had an impacted crop that massaging wouldn't help. You have helped just by answering. Thank you
 

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