Does anyone know what’s wrong with my hen?

[Kingroxim]

I just noticed this spot on one of my hens the other day, and I guess I’m not sure what it is or what I should do about it. It looks like it might be a little bit swollen, but my girl doesn’t seem to be acting any different than she normally does. She’s not lethargic, she’s still running around just fine, and she’s still eating normally from what I can tell. Is it serious? Some type of infection maybe? Mites? A case of someone else pecking her? I did attempt to clean it the other day, but she’s pretty skittish. I can always try again though! If anyone can help give some advice, it would be greatly appreciated!

 

[AidKD]

Could she have cut herself on something? Have you noticed any pecking or bullying going on?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Is it serious? Some type of infection maybe? Mites? A case of someone else pecking her? I did attempt to clean it the other day, but she’s pretty skittish.

When you were cleaning it.. did it feel rough like a scab or smooth like maybe just some discoloration? Did you get any dried blood off or did it stay kinda the same? To be clear though.. you're asking about the dark spot, not the light spot, is that correct?

Sometimes it's easiest to work with a skittish bird.. after they've gone to roost at night.. using a flashlight and keeping it dark to get them off roost prevents chasing. Hold wings down to the body while apprehending and handling to prevent the panic flapping.. and proceed as needed.

The feathers look a little rough or thin right above that area.. have you seen her scratching at it at all?

my girl doesn’t seem to be acting any different than she normally does. She’s not lethargic, she’s still running around just fine, and she’s still eating normally from what I can tell. Is it serious?

So it does NOT sound immediately life threatening.. and possibly not even concerning.. It almost looks a *bit* like a tumor which could go either way long term.. but I mean it could be an irritated mosquito bite, etc.. I don't have enough information to say for sure.. she looks like a red/gold sex link type??.. they're (allegedly) known for their reproductive tumors and short life spans.. I try not to worry about that or speak it into existence but still paying attention.

Regarding the mites question.. do your after dark check and look at the skin below the vent and on the abdomen. Spread the feathers apart and look for anything running away from the light.. is her skin light and normal pinkish like your skin or is it angry, red, rough, or scabby at all? Any "dried dirt clumps" (lice eggs) hanging on the feather shaft near the skin?

What is her age? Do you know her place in the pecking order, or have you seen any reason to suspect issues.. Seem more like if there is any pecking it would be at an accidental wound and not actually cause by the flock.. but could definitely escalate into a flock problem.. Usually not a problem for MY flock. but dynamics vary widely and it's seen commonly.

I hope she stays well and continues to thrive!

 

[Kingroxim]

Could she have cut herself on something? Have you noticed any pecking or bullying going on?

I guess there might be a small chance she could have cut herself on something, but I’m thinking if this was caused by an injury, it probably WAS pecking. I’ve noticed a couple of our girls have been pecking the others every once in a while, but I can’t say I’ve noticed anyone pecking at this particular hen… Haven’t noticed any injuries on any of the others that I know have been pecked. Though if it’s important information, we also do not have a rooster

 

[Kingroxim]

When you were cleaning it.. did it feel rough like a scab or smooth like maybe just some discoloration? Did you get any dried blood off or did it stay kinda the same? To be clear though.. you're asking about the dark spot, not the light spot, is that correct?

Sometimes it's easiest to work with a skittish bird.. after they've gone to roost at night.. using a flashlight and keeping it dark to get them off roost prevents chasing. Hold wings down to the body while apprehending and handling to prevent the panic flapping.. and proceed as needed.

The feathers look a little rough or thin right above that area.. have you seen her scratching at it at all?


So it does NOT sound immediately life threatening.. and possibly not even concerning.. It almost looks a *bit* like a tumor which could go either way long term.. but I mean it could be an irritated mosquito bite, etc.. I don't have enough information to say for sure.. she looks like a red/gold sex link type??.. they're (allegedly) known for their reproductive tumors and short life spans.. I try not to worry about that or speak it into existence but still paying attention.

Regarding the mites question.. do your after dark check and look at the skin below the vent and on the abdomen. Spread the feathers apart and look for anything running away from the light.. is her skin light and normal pinkish like your skin or is it angry, red, rough, or scabby at all? Any "dried dirt clumps" (lice eggs) hanging on the feather shaft near the skin?

What is her age? Do you know her place in the pecking order, or have you seen any reason to suspect issues.. Seem more like if there is any pecking it would be at an accidental wound and not actually cause by the flock.. but could definitely escalate into a flock problem.. Usually not a problem for MY flock. but dynamics vary widely and it's seen commonly.

I hope she stays well and continues to thrive!

Yes, I was primarily talking about the dark spot, I assumed the white spot if anything was part of the same injury(?) I’ll have to try cleaning again tonight when she’s settled in for the night or when I can get someone to help me with her. From what I saw though, there was no dried blood. I also noticed that it’s definitely recent and hasn’t been there for long. So far doesn’t seem like anything about it has changed, but it’s only been a few days. I think I may have noticed her scratching her head area a few times, but I’d have to observe her a bit more to confirm. Will also check the girls for mites, I know it was something someone else suggested on a thread on a different website.

She is an ISA brown, just a little over a year old. I would imagine she hopefully isn’t having issues so early into her life, but I know I’ve read they usually only live a few years. And like I said, she doesn’t seem to be acting different from normal, so it might not be something too serious but I wanted to make sure I would catch it before it might become serious. I was thinking it might be an ear infection, but when I looked it up, she wasn’t really showing any of the signs.

Still very iffy about determining pecking order, but there are a couple I know are at the top who I’ve noticed picking on a couple of particular hens every once in a while. She’s not one of the ones they’ve been pecking at though, and again, she’s the only one who has this issue. I’m really hoping she’ll be fine and that it’ll go away with time, but I figured it’s good to be cautious. Thank you!

 

[AidKD]

It definitely doesn't sound like anything serious. I know farm stores have sone sort of peck no more cream that you could rub over it. Maybe she scratched it raw and it attracted some of the older hens attention and they pecked at it.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Yes, I was primarily talking about the dark spot, I assumed the white spot if anything was part of the same injury(?)

No that's genetic and not relevant to injury, very common in hybrid layers.

The dark part looks like what I might call or think of as a melanoma.. none of the information I've found is promising.. indicating that they're almost always malignant (bad). Not my favorite informational resource but simple enough..

https://poultrydvm.com/condition/melanoma-in-chickens


I HOPE I'm wrong! I wonder if @azygous or @Eggcessive or @Wyorp Rock have a different opinion or consideration?TIA

Though if it’s important information, we also do not have a rooster

Could be part of the reason feathers are thin on back of the head. I did consider asking that rather than if she was scratching but must have forgotten.

Doesn't sound like a pecking order issue.

Sounds like she will be taken good care of though, good job looking out for her!

 

[azygous]

It's impossible to tell much from your photos. We need our other senses besides a two dimensional photo to examine this lesion to get any useful information. So you are going to have to do that for us.

Have a large bath towel ready. Have some hot compresses handy (little rags and a bowl of hot soapy water). Grab your hen and wrap her securely in the towel like a breakfast burrito so her wings and feet are confined. This will relax her as well as immobilize her.

Next, apply the hot compresses, changing them when one gets cool. Be sure it doesn't burn your hand so it doesn't burn the ear lobe. Once the lesion is softened, try scraping the black part off. This is called "debriding the wound". If it's an injury, there will be bacteria under the scab that has to be cleaned out.

If the black is not a scab, you will discover that. It will then tell us this is likely cancer and will not heal no matter what you do. If the scab comes off, clean it well and apply Neosporin or other wound ointment. Keep the ointment applied for the nest few weeks to see if it heals. After a couple of weeks, if the lesion doesn't improve, then we will assume it's a skin cancer. A vet might be able to cut it out, so you might want to be thinking about finding a vet that sees chickens.

My observation is that the white may be dying tissue, turning white because it's lost its blood supply. The black part may be either a scab or necrotic tissue. Whether it's cancer or not, the black must be removed by you if it's a wound scab or by a vet if it's cancer.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I agree, I check it and treat is as injury at this point.
Do look inside her ear for any indication of yellow waxy material which would indicate ear canker or infection.

Hard to tell if it's a scab, skin cancer or something else. It's good that she's drinking/eating/active.

The white on the ear to me looks like color bleed that is commonly seen in hybrid breeds of chickens.

 

[Kingroxim]

Thanks for the input everyone. I will check her ear and try cleaning the spot again tonight and see if it comes off.