Help! My Cochin hen has some sort of abscess? Idk what it is. It’s below the vent and huge!

[CrazyChickenLady35]

Update. I attempted to drain it a few moments ago and nothing came out. I tried several times in a few different places and nothing every time. This probably means it’s a tumor. I could attempt to lance it with a razor blade but i’m afraid that will do more harm than good. Luckily she barely flinched when I poked her with the needle so she isn’t in more unnecessary pain. I’m at a loss here I don’t know what to do. She’s eating and drinking now so she’s not too out of sorts.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sometimes it can be good to just watch it and see what happens.

 

[CrazyChickenLady35]

Sometimes it can be good to just watch it and see what happens.

That’s what I’m doing for now. It doesn’t seem to be causing any issues and she laid an egg today which she hasn’t done in a while. She’s our only steady layer so when she stopped it raised some alarm bells and I discovered the mass. I’m keeping her in a dog crate in my room so I can keep a close eye on her and I’m changing her hay every day to keep her as clean as possible to limit risk of infection.

 

[CrazyChickenLady35]

Sometimes it can be good to just watch it and see what happens.

Could it be a feather follicle cyst? There’s some yellowish discoloration around the root of some of the feathers on the lump.

 

[CrazyChickenLady35]

Okay guys. The lump basically looks the same, maybe slightly less inflamed and less red. I’m going to give her a bath tonight because she managed to get poop stuck all over her chest and I cant wipe it off with a wet wipe. I’m gonna keep her inside for one more night and tomorrow I’m gonna put her back out with the flock. I’ll provide weekly updates if anything changes in her behavior or if the lump looks worse.

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

Okay guys. The lump basically looks the same, maybe slightly less inflamed and less red. I’m going to give her a bath tonight because she managed to get poop stuck all over her chest and I cant wipe it off with a wet wipe. I’m gonna keep her inside for one more night and tomorrow I’m gonna put her back out with the flock. I’ll provide weekly updates if anything changes in her behavior or if the lump looks worse.

Is it possible to get a picture?

 

[CrazyChickenLady35]

Is it possible to get a picture?

Yep!

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

Yep!

It does look less red, which is a good sign. Good luck!

 

[CrazyChickenLady35]

Yep!

umm actually update now. part of one of her toes is missing. like full on gone. what’s happening to her??

 

[Eggcessive]

How cold is it where you live? Could she have suffered some frostbite to her toe last year? How old is she? It could be a feather cyst. If it was, there would be a feather underneath it. But being located under the vent I would be cautious about exploring it. Here is some reading about feather cysts:
https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/feather-cysts-in-birds