Eyelid Tumors

[lottielouwho]

Hello everyone.....I have a 5 month old Russian Orloff hen that I just noticed this morning has what appears to be tumors above both eyes on her upper eyelids These chickens heads look funky anyway because of the feather growth and the ear muffs, so I just noticed it this morning. I caught her and took these pictures. Has anyone ever seen tumors on their head above their eyes like this? They are very nodular, and black looking and oozing. They look very cancerous to me I have never seen anything like this in any of my chickens before. She is growing, acting fine, eating, everything. But her vision has to be impaired, or will be soon if they keep growing. Would it even be worth the expense of having them took off, or should I just go ahead and euthanize, or wait and see what happens. I guess what I'm asking is if anyone has had this before and what was the diagnosis and outcome? Thanks for any info! Pictures are attahed

 

[Wyorp Rock]

@Eggcessive
Let's see what Kim thinks.

Have you noticed any respiratory issues within your flock?

If you can afford vet care and you feel it's worth it, then having them take a look would be good.

 

[Eggcessive]

It looks like squamous cell cancer which is fairly common in chickens. But I also wonder about possible ingrown feather cysts, or fungal infection. A vet would be needed to tell which. Most state vets will diagnose something like this if you lose the chicken and send in the body for a necropsy. Here is a list of mist state vets to contact, and info on keeping the body cold:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

 

[Eggcessive]

A keratoacanthoma is another possibility. These are rapid growing benign tumors that can show up on feathers, and cause a pitted appearance. They can diasappear. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poultry/neoplasms/neoplasms-of-unknown-etiology-in-poultry

 

[lottielouwho]

It looks like squamous cell cancer which is fairly common in chickens. But I also wonder about possible ingrown feather cysts, or fungal infection. A vet would be needed to tell which. Most state vets will diagnose something like this if you lose the chicken and send in the body for a necropsy. Here is a list of mist state vets to contact, and info on keeping the body cold:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

I agree on the cancer part thanks for the info.....I am going to keep a very close eye on her and probably just euthanize when I see she has a poor quality of life....thanks

 

[lottielouwho]

@Eggcessive
Let's see what Kim thinks.

Have you noticed any respiratory issues within your flock?

If you can afford vet care and you feel it's worth it, then having them take a look would be good.

No, not at all....my flock are very healthy, free range on about an acre, and no one else is sick or has anything like this. Yes, I am checking around for vets....thanks!

 

[lottielouwho]

I found a vet that is seeing her tomorrow. I'll update after the vet visit

 

[Eggcessive]

Please continue to update your thread here after seeing the vet. Also if you chose to let her live out her life, let us know if the lesions go away or get worse. It sure would be nice if it turned out to be a kerato acanthoma that goes away.

 

[lottielouwho]

***Update*** The vet drew fluid from the tumors and said they were loaded with white blood cells....he is thinking some type of infection or fowl pox. Could be cancer, but since it is bilateral he doesn't think so. We started her on antibiotics and are going to do that for 2 weeks and see how it looks. It they get worse, or she gets sick (right now she is acting completely normal) and it doesn't look like it's helping we will euthanize.

 

[MysteryChicken]

You sure they aren't just abscesses?
Antibiotics will help with abscesses too.