HELPCurious lump on breastbone

[mtminstrel]

I just noticed one of my chickens looked like her breastbone was sticking our farther than usual. I felt it and there is a lump there almost the size of a golf ball. Any idea what it is?

 

[Erica]

Hi mtminstrel,
is the lump hard or squishy?
Is it attached to the breastbone, or is it loose under the skin?
Is it hard like bone, or does it have a gritty, gravel-like feel, or is it soft?
If you give a little more info -- a photo would be great -- there might be more cues for people to offer ideas.

Sometimes people mistake the crop for a growth... That's not going on here is it? (Sorry to put that up but it does happen once in a while when people are new to chickens.)

I would be thinking possible infected injury, cyst or perhaps (unfortunately) tumour. But a lot depends on the shape, texture and feel of the mass, as well as what it appears to be stuck to...

good luck, and I hope you find answers,
Erica

 

[mtminstrel]

these are my first chickens. I felt it a couple of times but didn't note the things you asked. I will look at it with more scrutiny in the morning when I can see. And how would I post a picture of her?