Beak Abscess? Please help.

[Jacobeth]

I have read through several past threads. Some related issues seem to be a canker sore. But, my Delaware hen's issue seems somewhat worse. I noticed a couple days ago that her beak was curved extra long. When looking closer I saw the abscess/swelling (see images). It seems to have deformed her bottom beak to the side (almost like scissor beak). I don't know if the long curved top beak is a result of or caused the abscess. But, I imagine it's difficult to eat and potentially painful. If it's just a canker sore, I know there are OTC meds available. But, it seems worse than that. As far as the curved beak is concerned, I know I can trim it back. The abscess is my main concern.

 

[chicknmania]

I have never seen anything like that. If you are sure it's an abscess and not a tumor, maybe try to bathe it a few times a day in very warm water with some epsom salts added? To see if you can get it to burst? It looks nasty. If she were mine, I'd want to give an antibiotic too..maybe Baytril if you can get it. ..She also looks like an older hen, I'm assuming she is and that is why the long beak? If you have the resource, you might want to conslut a vet.

 

[Jacobeth]

I have never seen anything like that. If you are sure it's an abscess and not a tumor, maybe try to bathe it a few times a day in very warm water with some epsom salts added? To see if you can get it to burst? It looks nasty. If she were mine, I'd want to give an antibiotic too..maybe Baytril if you can get it. ..She also looks like an older hen, I'm assuming she is and that is why the long beak? If you have the resource, you might want to conslut a vet.

Yes, she is 6 years old. She and her 3 sisters are still laying and seem very healthy. Her beak has not been this long until the growth that I just noticed last week. Although I care for my hens, I can't justify dropping $50 just to have a vet look at her. I'll have to try cleaning the sore. I wonder if I should try to drain it.

 

[Eggcessive]

Does the beak have a bad odor? Can you look inside the beak for any yellow or grey cankers or patches? I am wondering if that might be some type of tumor. Can you try to trim the upper beak slightly, just a little at a time, with a pair of dog nail clippers? Canker, a protozoan illness carried by pigeons, is treated with metronidazole or Fish Zole available online. Dosage is 250 mg given orally daily for 5-6 days. But I would hold off until you are sure that it is canker.

 

[Eggcessive]

Here is an article about trimming a beak:
https://www.hobbyfarms.com/trim-chickens-beak/

 

[chicknmania]

If you've had as much rain over the summer as we have had here, canker is a definite possibility although I've never seen it manifested that way. Look for yellow lesions in the mouth and throat, and bad smelling breath.

 

[Jacobeth]

Does the beak have a bad odor? Can you look inside the beak for any yellow or grey cankers or patches? I am wondering if that might be some type of tumor. Can you try to trim the upper beak slightly, just a little at a time, with a pair of dog nail clippers? Canker, a protozoan illness carried by pigeons, is treated with metronidazole or Fish Zole available online. Dosage is 250 mg given orally daily for 5-6 days. But I would hold off until you are sure that it is canker.

Here is what her mouth looks like. I did cut back her beak. But, the growth issue seems to have not gotten better. In fact, the red color below her beak, above her waddle is spreading over the growth. I was able to pinch/break off some of the black growth. It seemed like a scab of some sort.
I ordered some API GENERAL CURE which contains metronidazole. I'll give that to her when it arrives.

 

[Eggcessive]

I have never seen anything that looked necrotic in a beak before. @dawg53 and @casportpony , have you seen this? It looks more like dead tissue that canker.

 

[dawg53]

@Jacobeth You never answered the question if there's a foul odor coming from the hens mouth. It looks like canker and it's spreading.

 

[chicknmania]

I don't think that looks like canker. It's Some kind of infection that's causing necrosis.