Acute growth on hens neck

[SmiYa0126]

11 month old RIR pullet, noticed a growth on side of her neck on Sunday afternoon.

No observed bruising.

Doesn't appear to have increased in size.

Ate well on Sunday evening, laid an egg on Monday.

Gave vitamin E, selenium, b complex, and amoxicillin on Sunday.

@Wyorp Rock @azygous @Eggcessive @aart

Now force feeding eggs, meat and grubs.

Gave calcium citrate Tuesday and Wednesday in addition to the other supplements.

No improvement, she seems to lean forward because of the growth.

The only thing she's eaten willingly is a little bit of raw yolk and cucumber, drinking as well.

They're fed later crumble and some chick starter for extra protein, she started laying about three months ago. The flock free ranges days most days. She's a robust, good motivated hen.

Any ideas what this could be? Should I try to drain it? Lance it?

 

[azygous]

Is it soft or rock hard or somewhere in between? If it's soft, it could be an abscess. You can try hot compresses on it several times a day, careful not to get it hot enough to burn skin.

Do you see any source of abrasion or puncture injuries? How is her crop? It would be wise to do a morning crop check to be sure this is not associated with her crop.

 

[azygous]

Keep an eye on it. Airsaculitis is a serious infection. But this may just be from environmental stress and it doesn't involve bacteria. If this is the case, it will resolve on its own. But it troubles me that you report she's lethargic. If that continues, then it may be an infection after all, and she would likely need an antibiotic if she doesn't improve or especially if she acts worse.

if her appetite is poor and if she isn't drinking much, fix her a cup of warm water with a teaspoon of brown sugar dissolved in it to raise her glucose and to help improve her appetite.

This is where Poultry Nutri-drench can be a big help. A squirt in her water can be a boon to her immune system which is likely under strain.

 

[SmiYa0126]

Keep watch. If she becomes lethargic and loses her appetite, then I suggest starting her on an oral antibiotic.

I've had her on 500 mg of fish mox since Wednesday, upped it from 250 on Mon/ Tues
@azygous

 

[SmiYa0126]

She's eating and drinking on her own this evening! I'm going to try to release more of the air in her air sac.

@azygous @Wyorp Rock

Thank you for helping me

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Eating and drinking on her own is better.
Hopefully you can release a bit more air and it will resolve.

Did you see this thread? You may find it helpful.


https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/ruptured-air-sac-subcutaneous-emphysema.1432594/

 

[SmiYa0126]

Air was released by itself today, here's a picture of her clavicle area. Looks like a bruise. Other side is beige.

@azygous

 

[SmiYa0126]

You know about this, right?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/safely-administering-oral-medications-to-all-poultry-and-waterfowl.73335/

Yes very helpful! I've read it many times.

 

[SmiYa0126]

Thank you everyone for your help, my sweet girl is dead, I put her down this morning.

She's scratching for bugs and dust bathing in Heaven.

Another small piece of my heart is no longer on this earth.

@azygous @Wyorp Rock @aart

 

[SmiYa0126]

I did a partial necropsy, it was a tumor on her neck, had its own blood supply. The purple on her clavicle was her crop pushing up. I didn't go any further.