Growth or infection on face

[Rivington]

One of our Easter eggers has a strange growth or swelling on one side of her mouth. I didn’t see anything inside her mouth so I don’t think it is canker. Her behaviour is normal and she is laying. Any advice appreciated.

Here is a pic:

Here is the unaffected side for reference:

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Greetings Rivington,

It's hard to tell from looking at a photo, but, I am guessing it is an injury.

I think I see some small bits of dried blood. Perhaps she cut her mouth on chicken wire, as, there are lots of unseen protruding pieces of wire in the pen. Or, she simply got pecked by another chicken. It doesn't look like a tumor, or cyst, however the lower part can be abscessing from infection.

If an abcess forms, you will have to drain it, and treat it as an open wound. Flush with peroxide (one time only), or flush with saline solution, then, apply antibiotic ointment.

I would start by treating it as an infection. Clean the area with some peroxide (one time), if the wound has been untreated for a couple of days. Otherwise, if it is a fresh wound, flush with a simple saline solution. Finish, by applying an antibiotic ointment, like: Neosporin, Vetericyn, or Colloidal Silver. Apply ointment twice a day. Clean when needed.

If you don't see improvement within 48 hours, another diagnosis will have to be considered.


I hope I have been helpful.
Other members will have advice, please consider these too.

God Bless

 

[Rivington]

Thanks for the advice Hen Pem Jen. It is at least a week old and has grown since I first noticed it but I don't think it has gotten bigger in the last few days.

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Start treatment for infected wound. Be vigilant and aware, that infection can spread/grow, inward, as well. Sniff the area, if it smells foul, it is active infection. Check for any weeping or oozing in the area as well.

A vet can usually diagnose unusual growths, by aspirating with a syringe, then looking at the sample under a microscope. But, if you can't take the hen to see a vet, you'll have to use the process of elimination to determine if you are dealing with infection/abscess, tumor, or a cyst.

Now that I am looking at the hen's muff feathers, it is possible that this could be a feather cyst. Check to see if the irritation starts at the base of a feather. If it does, you'll have to pull that feather. It's like pulling a plug...thick pus will usually start to ooze from that follicle. You may even have to squeeze some of the goo out, then treat as infection.

 

[AmyJane725]

Sorry, I definitely feel for you/your girl, but the very first thing my brain said when I looked at that picture was "Why so serious?"

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Sorry, I definitely feel for you/your girl, but the very first thing my brain said when I looked at that picture was "Why so serious?"

The chicken is at a point, where healing is possible.

When the healing window closes, the word "serious", will not begin to describe the suffering a chicken can go through. Not to mention, the desperation of the keeper, as they try to find an effective treatment.

Attend to illnesses and injuries, promptly so that the chicken will be healthy and happy.

 

[AmyJane725]

The chicken is at a point, where healing is possible.

When the healing window closes, the word "serious", will not begin to describe the suffering a chicken can go through. Not to mention, the desperation of the keeper, as they try to find an effective treatment.

Attend to illnesses and injuries, promptly so that the chicken will be healthy and happy.

Sorry, it was a Joker reference...

 

[Eggcessive]

I still think that looks like canker, but my only experience is in seeing pictures and reading about it. It may worsen and more signs may occur. Do you notice a bad odor yet? Have you had any dry fowl pox from mosquitoes this year? Wet pox can sometimes look similar, and has yellow lesions inside the mouth. If you want to treat, metronidazole or ronitazole are the usual anti-protozoa medicines used. Fish Zole is available online and the dosage is 250 mg daily for 5-6 days.

Edited to say that I thought that I had posted this 6 hours before, but forgot to post.

 

[Eggcessive]

I have seen a couple of cases posted here of cancer of the face. Those 2 cases recently looked like canker, but the necropsies came back as cancer. Hopefully, it is an abscess or canker. I would treat it as an abscess if there is no bad odor and no yellow gunk inside the beak. Chlorhexidene (Hibiclens) would be safe to use around the mouth, and plain Neosporin is good to put on it after cleaning.

 

[Rivington]

I had another look. No noticeable foul smell. It didn't seem to be a feather cyst. It didn't feel mushy but relatively solid. I didn't look inside her mouth as she was already pretty stressed but will do so tomorrow.

I put Theracyn on a a swab and cleaned it but didn't attempt to lance it.

As I said her behavior is normal and she is laying so hopefully it is nothing serious. I got a slightly better picture but not sure if it provides any new information.

Thanks for the suggestions so far.