Huge bump on hens head

[MommaVfluffybutts]

I have a young buff Orpington pullet with a large bump on her head. She doesn't appear to be acting different or in distress. Eating and drinking fine. It just appeared a few days ago. At close look it seems as if there's a small bruise in the center maybe from pecking but I'm not sure. What should I do? I've only been raising chickens for a year and I've never experienced anything like this before. Should I be concerned? How do I treat it? Don't have much money for a vet unless absolutely necessary...life or death....any help is appreciated. Thanks!!!

 

[The Coop Crew]

Does it look like it may have infection in it? How does it feel? Hard? Squishy?

 

[MommaVfluffybutts]

Does it look like it may have infection in it? How does it feel? Hard? Squishy?

I looked again this afternoon and it is slightly firm but not squishy at all. I looked under her feathers and it seemed like several blood spots where she could have been pecked a few times but I can't say for sure. She's one of the younger smaller pullets. But that's what it looks like. But when I touched it she didn't pull away from me or act like she was in pain. So I'm confused. What are the possibilities? I'd like to get it addressed before I go to the coop and she's gone. Makes me feel bad when I can't heal or fix my animals problems and I lose them. Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[The Coop Crew]

I looked again this afternoon and it is slightly firm but not squishy at all. I looked under her feathers and it seemed like several blood spots where she could have been pecked a few times but I can't say for sure. She's one of the younger smaller pullets. But that's what it looks like. But when I touched it she didn't pull away from me or act like she was in pain. So I'm confused. What are the possibilities? I'd like to get it addressed before I go to the coop and she's gone. Makes me feel bad when I can't heal or fix my animals problems and I lose them. Thanks in advance for your help.

Hmmm the only think I could think of would be an infection from a peck wound. If that’s the case it may have hard pus in it (pus in chickens is firm not liquidity). You could use warm compresses and see if it draws anything out.
Let me tag some more knowledgeable people who can help also!
@azygous @Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock

 

[Wyorp Rock]

At close look it seems as if there's a small bruise in the center maybe from pecking but I'm not sure. What should I do?

I looked under her feathers and it seemed like several blood spots where she could have been pecked a few times but I can't say for sure.

Is there anyway to move the feathers away from the area and get some photos?

I you are seeing a wound, then clean it with saline or Chlorhexidine, apply triple antibiotic ointment.

 

[azygous]

It's very important to know if the bump is hard or soft. Does it feel like it's full of fluid like a blister? If it's more on the hard side, it may be a neoplastic tumor.

These tumors are not always malignant, meaning the chicken can live many years with them. If your hen is behaving normally and does not react when you manipulate it, it may be painless, pointing to a tumor.

I had a hen with such a tumor over her right eye. She lived for five years with it before it grew to a size where it pressed on the optic nerve and caused her to go blind. She managed another several years before it grew enough to put pressure on her brain causing torticollis (wry neck) which I treated with vitamin E. She was nearly fourteen when the tumor caused such severe problems she had to be euthanized.

 

[MommaVfluffybutts]

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Is there anyway to move the feathers away from the area and get some photos?

I you are seeing a wound, then clean it with saline or Chlorhexidine, apply triple antibiotic ointment.

I will get photos in the morning and upload them.

 

[MommaVfluffybutts]

Hmmm the only think I could think of would be an infection from a peck wound. If that’s the case it may have hard pus in it (pus in chickens is firm not liquidity). You could use warm compresses and see if it draws anything out.
Let me tag some more knowledgeable people who can help also!
@azygous @Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock

I'd appreciate any help you can give me. I love my girls and I'll do the best I can for them. I just recently lost 3 chickens for no apparent reason in the last two weeks and it hurts me to my heart. This little girl is very close to my heart and I've hand raised all 44 of my pullets and cockrels by hand and I prefer not to lose any more.

 

[The Coop Crew]

I'd appreciate any help you can give me. I love my girls and I'll do the best I can for them. I just recently lost 3 chickens for no apparent reason in the last two weeks and it hurts me to my heart. This little girl is very close to my heart and I've hand raised all 44 of my pullets and cockrels by hand and I prefer not to lose any more.

Well I can tell you that you have some of the most knowledgeable people who have responded here. Posting the pictures will be very helpful

 

[wt190141]

Any update? Looks exactly the same as my Thelma. I’m thinking my hen’s was caused by a rooster peck while mating that may have gotten infected. Let me know what you decided to do & how it worked!