Growth behind beak

[steve12201]

Hello everyone,

I'm new to backyard chickens. We have 4 one-year old hens and one of them has a growth on the left side of her face behind her beak. I recently noticed it and have been watching it. I found your forum today after I saw it was getting bigger and not appearing like it was healing.

I have no idea what it is and was hoping someone here could look at the picture and tell me how I can help Midnight. She is a sweet girl and I want to help her any way I can.



Pardon the sand on her beak and on the swollen area, she was dusting herself when I grabbed her to snap the pics.

None of them are sneezing or acting sick in any way.

Thanks,
Steve

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. I can't see any peck marks because of the sand on the growth, but my first thought is that is possibly an abscess from a peck wound. An abscess may feel puffy, and when you lance it, and squeeze it, solid pus may come out. Clean the growth with antiseptic before lancing, and apply some plain neosporin afterward. If it feels hard, then it might be a tumor or cyst. Lance that and you may only find blood.

 

[steve12201]

It's hard, so I'm thinking it is probably a tumor or cyst.

Should I try to slice it open and remove whatever is inside?

I remember helping my grandfather as a kid when his peacocks would get a huge lump under there eyes. We would hold the bird still while he used a razor to open the area and pop out a lump that looked a lot like a tree nut (whitish tan in color). He would then clean and dress the wound with ointment and keep the bird isolated for a while to heal.

Thanks for your help. I really want to get her well again. My kids love her like a sibling.

 

[DwayneNLiz]

yep, thats just what you need to do, and you already have the experience

good luck!

 

[Eggcessive]

It's hard, so I'm thinking it is probably a tumor or cyst.

Should I try to slice it open and remove whatever is inside?

I remember helping my grandfather as a kid when his peacocks would get a huge lump under there eyes. We would hold the bird still while he used a razor to open the area and pop out a lump that looked a lot like a tree nut (whitish tan in color). He would then clean and dress the wound with ointment and keep the bird isolated for a while to heal.

Thanks for your help. I really want to get her well again. My kids love her like a sibling.

That is the way to remove a plug of solid pus that can happen with either conjunctivitis or a respiratory infection such as MG or coryza. Yours may only require lancing and squeezing a bit. For some reason, your hen's lump looks more like a peck wound abscess or a tumor, than respiratory infection. Pus becomes solid and cheesy inside an infected wound, and hopefully that is what you will find. If it starts growing larger quickly, then again, it may be a tumor. In the picture below, I suspect that pullet had a similar bump near the beak.

photo by katiec11

 

[steve12201]

What antibiotic or ointment(s) would you recommend once the area is exposed? I want to make a barrier to prevent any additional infection.

Thanks again... that bump does look familiar. It is very odd indeed.

Steve

 

[Eggcessive]

Triple antibiotic, plain neosporin,( both the same,) or bacitracin are all good to use twice a day. Even betadine ointment or whatever you have, is good. Vetericyn wound spray is used by vets, but kind of pricey at feed stores, but good for any types of wounds.