Bulge under hens beak.......any thoughts on how to proceed

[chitownhens]

This hen was recently loaded with mites. I didn't notice until I picked her up and she had lost quite a bit of weight. The fact that she is skittish but I was able to pick her up was another clue which led to the discovery of the mites. She was eating normal in fact she was gulping down food.

Got rid of the mites with poultry dust but now I notice the bulge under her beak and she is not eating much. Any thoughts on what to do. I could just leave it and see what happens but I'm also willing to take action if necessary. I have read in other threads that sometimes a bulge is a cyst that needs to be lanced but I am unsure. She is gulp a little bit with some brown stuff in her mouth. Could be blood or more then likely some liver she ate yesterday.

Here is a picture of her this morning. Tail is up so that's a good sign.

 

[sourland]

Have you checked in her mouth to see if anything is lodged there ? She also looks as if flock members have been abusing her - is that blood on her feathers ?

 

[azygous]

Does the bulge feel lumpy and solid? Or is it soft and pliable? It doesn't look like anything more than loose skin in your photo.

Your hen appears to be feeling unwell, though. The dark liquid in her mouth may indicate a crop disorder. Does her breath smell sort of like sauerkraut?

What does her poop look like?

 

[azygous]

Crop disorders can be associated with other issues. It really doesn't matter. It could be caused by the hit her immune system took from the mite infestation or from something else. I suggest you verify the presence of a crop issue by checking it first thing in the morning. If it's still full and squishy after a full night, it will need treatment.

The bulge under the lower beak needs more examination. Can you get a closeup photo of the lump? Does it seem to be inside or is it a lesion you can see and feel the contours of on the surface of the tissue?

 

[azygous]

I am guessing the bulge could be an air sac that's become inflamed. Take a sterilized needle and insert it very shallowly at the edge of the bulge. If it's an air sac, the air should be released and you will likely hear it. Treatment for airsacculitis is an antibiotic for respiratory illness.

If it remains swollen, you can tube feed her by inserting a thin syringe directly into her esophagus at the right side of her throat. Mix a watery mixture of raw egg and yogurt and it will easily squirt into her crop. You can also get a tube feeding kit from most vets for a couple dollars.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Does her breath/beak have a rotten odor or bad smell?

I know it's difficult to take photos by yourself, can you get someone to take photos while you open the beak again? Hard to really see, but are you seeing white/yellow looking pustules or sore inside the beak and on the tongue?
Also the end of her top beak and the lower beak, there are 2 places especially that look like injury? Maybe a puncture?

She does not look well at all. If you have vet care, that's best, but a guess would be canker or as suggested a crop issue with accompanying yeast/thrush.

http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/canker
https://www.chickenvet.co.uk/news/post/a-review-of-oral-lesions-in-backyard-chickens

 

[chitownhens]

Poop looked normal, breath does smell a little and the bulge has a firm feel too it. I tried massaging it a little and also gently squeezing it.

Logic would tell me this might be related to the mite issue that was treated with the medicated dust but only a guess as she was normal before the mite issue.

 

[chitownhens]

No that is not blood on her feathers but the blood from the liver that was in her mouth from yesterday. She is very high in the pecking order no one was picking on her.

My question is specifically about the bulge.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Yes yellow/white pustules on the inside of her mouth on the right side so what you say also makes sense. A vet is not an option if I could obtain the medication I can treat her Metronidazole is that possible? Any other thoughts I did read a mention of garlic towards the bottom of one of those links, thank you.

And of course it sounds like I was wrong and maybe this does stem initially from the crop not really sure.

If it's canker, that is caused by a protozoa and it's contagious. Canker treatment is with Metronidazole. 250mg given orally 2 times a day for 5-7 days. You will probably have to order it online.
It would be a good idea to look inside the beaks of your other birds. Acidified Copper Sulfate can be added to the flock's water to help as a preventative measure. You would order that online as well.

She is not well, so hopefully this will help. If you lose her, I suggest you get a necropsy through your state lab to find out exactly the cause - this information will help you going forward in knowing if you need to take preventative measures with your remaining flock.

https://www.jefferspet.com/products/fish-zole-metronidazole-tablets-250
https://www.jefferspet.com/products/acidified-copper-sulfate-1

 

[Eggcessive]

It doesn’t say how much of the ingredients it has, and I would prefer to use Fish Zole (metronidazole) which you can get online. Dosage is usually 250 mg daily for 5-6 days. Here is a link:
https://www.allivet.com/p-2393-fish...oZ507thYb9NJ-A3r7Cc1BlixG9oVHuUoaAqxFEALw_wcB

You can check on dosage with the company for the product you have.