Horn-like protrusion on back... keeps getting bigger, is raising feathers and bleeding. Looks like a scab. What is it?

[Sunshine Chick]

So my Sussex hen Sparkles has this protrusion on her back... I thought it was just a feather growing in weird, but it’s been

a few weeks and it’s gotten worse. It looks like a big scab, it’s in a horn shape, and it keeps bleeding some and scabbing back over, making it bigger... what is this? What could it be? Google searches got me nothing like this. Is it an ingrown feather gone out of control? What should I do about it? I’m sure it is painful for her. And it’s raising her feathers up which isn’t good for wintertime.

 

[Wezdin]

Where on her back is it? Is it possibly an irritated preen gland?

 

[Sunshine Chick]

Where on her back is it? Is it possibly an irritated preen gland?

Here’s a picture: it’s where my thumb is.

 

[Sunshine Chick]

I looked up what a preen gland is, and I realized it’s that gland at the base of their tail feathers that has that oil they groom their feathers with! This protrusion is not at the base of her tail, it’s more high-to-mid back.

 

[Sunshine Chick]

Just an update: it keeps getting bigger. I may need a vet’s help... she doesn’t seem sick, but I’m concerned if this goes unchecked that may be the end result. Any advice?

 

[CluckerFamily]

I am so sorry this is happening, this can cause you a lot of worrying.
My first thought would’ve also been a feather.
With the bleeding, do you have any vetericyn on hand? I would be using that to help with the bleeding part.
I’m wondering if the scab is just so big that it looks worse than what it is.
Hopefully others have some better recommendations.

 

[Eggcessive]

I am not sure what that could be. Ingrown feather cysts and tumors can be common in chickens. Does it show where other hens or she could be picking at it?

 

[Sunshine Chick]

Thank you for your replies! It doesn’t show, so nobody has been pecking at her. As of a couple of weeks ago, it seemed to have broken off, and now looks like a normal, small, scab. Perhaps the rooster broke it off while breeding her? I don’t really know. It doesn’t seem as uncomfortable for her to have me pet her like it was before, so that’s good. I’ve decided to keep an eye on it and leave it alone for now. I will update this post in a few weeks or so and let you all know what’s up!