Beak Lesion? Abscess?

[Roozeekuh]

6 year old Buff Orpington hen. This summer she developed a lesion or abscess on her left lower beak. It's been growing for about 2 months. We've been watching it carefully. Before I go trying to do any "surgery" to drain an abscess, I thought I'd pick the brains of those more experienced first.

Btw, she acts, feeds, and drinks normally. There other hens show no signs of infection or aggression towards her.

I included pics.

 

[RosemaryDuck]

6 year old Buff Orpington hen. This summer she developed a lesion or abscess on her left lower beak. It's been growing for about 2 months. We've been watching it carefully. Before I go trying to do any "surgery" to drain an abscess, I thought I'd pick the brains of those more experienced first.

Btw, she acts, feeds, and drinks normally. There other hens show no signs of infection or aggression towards her.

I included pics.

I'm stuck between saying this is an abscess or a tumor. Chickens can get some pretty nasty cancerous tumors.

I would definitely go ahead and try to clean it. Try to remove the black parts (that look necrotic). If there's any pus (chunky white cottage cheese stuff!) inside, clear it out completely and use chlorhexidine, betadine or vetericyn to rinse out the hole. Pack with Neosporin (no pain killer) and keep up the cleanings for a while.

If there's nothing inside, or its just that mass by itself, it's likely something cancerous or some kind of tumor. Hope everything goes well for you and your hen!