Hard mass on cockerels neck

[Tumbleweedlynn]

Hi all. I have a cockerel that is the last of 4 that were together up until this week. I decided to keep him because he was the low man on the totem pole and is very gentle. He’s has a ruffled spot on his neck that my husband said was molting, but after really feeling it, it’s a hard lump lower than his neck on the right side. My husband thought I’d was a cyst but it’s hard and appears to have a scab on it. Could this be from the other cockerels pecking at him? I sprayed with Vetericyn. He is eating and drinking and moving around fine. Thanks

 

[Yard Farmer]

Hi all. I have a cockerel that is the last of 4 that were together up until this week. I decided to keep him because he was the low man on the totem pole and is very gentle. He’s has a ruffled spot on his neck that my husband said was molting, but after really feeling it, it’s a hard lump lower than his neck on the right side. My husband thought I’d was a cyst but it’s hard and appears to have a scab on it. Could this be from the other cockerels pecking at him? I sprayed with Vetericyn. He is eating and drinking and moving around fine. Thanks View attachment 3369525View attachment 3369526View attachment 3369524

Looks like since he was at the bottom of the pecking order, he got pecked so much that the others drew blood.
Looks like just a scab, veep it clean and he should be just fine.

 

[Tumbleweedlynn]

Looks like since he was at the bottom of the pecking order, he got pecked so much that the others drew blood.
Looks like just a scab, veep it clean and he should be just fine.

So the fact that it’s a mass (feels like a tiny egg) could be contributed to consistent pecking? (Assuming that’s what caused it). Thanks!

 

[Tumbleweedlynn]

So the fact that it’s a mass (feels like a tiny egg) could be contributed to consistent pecking? (Assuming that’s what caused it). Thanks!

@azygous @Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock @casportpony please help if you can. I’m freaking out now because I saw a similar thread, same symptoms pretty much (except this lump is firm), and it wasn’t good. I trimmed back the feathers around it, sprayed it again and put some Manuka honey on it. I had just put him with my pullets a couple days ago. He’s in isolation now.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would say to keep it cleaned and apply plain Neosporin ointment daily. It may be a pecking injury, but there are skin cancers that cause scabby lumps on skin. If you watch it, and it gets bigger or heals, then you will know. Only a vet looking at cells under a microscope could diagnose a skin cancer. That would be best done after death when your state vet could perform a necropsy.

 

[Tumbleweedlynn]

I would say to keep it cleaned and apply plain Neosporin ointment daily. It may be a pecking injury, but there are skin cancers that cause scabby lumps on skin. If you watch it, and it gets bigger or heals, then you will know. Only a vet looking at cells under a microscope could diagnose a skin cancer. That would be best done after death when your state vet could perform a necropsy.

Thank you. I read a thread you were called into with the same thing and the cockerel ended up getting two more masses, died, and the necropsy stated it was Marek’s. I need to read up on that one for sure. There have been zero new additions to my flock . Thank you again

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I would say to keep it cleaned and apply plain Neosporin ointment daily. It may be a pecking injury, but there are skin cancers that cause scabby lumps on skin. If you watch it, and it gets bigger or heals, then you will know. Only a vet looking at cells under a microscope could diagnose a skin cancer. That would be best done after death when your state vet could perform a necropsy.

I agree, I'd treat it like a wound/injury and see how it goes.

Hopefully this will turn out just fine.

 

[Tumbleweedlynn]

I agree, I'd treat it like a wound/injury and see how it goes.

Hopefully this will turn out just fine.

Thank you.