Huge Swollen Lump on OEG Bantam's Chest

[The Monkey Mama]

We have a 4yo Old English Game Bantam hen.

She is a very active, very sweet little hen. She doesn't lay any more [and she is possibly older than 4yo, we adopted her just last year as an "old" hen].

She is my son's pet and she is completely pampered and adored.

Last week I noticed a big walnut shaped lump on the right side of her chest. She was picking at it like it itched or hurt, but she was still active and eating normally [layena and fruit/veggie scraps from our kitchen]. She was interacting with our other hens and acting normal.

Then on Thursday the lump went away, so I assumed it was some sort of bug bite - I picked her up, felt around her breast and everything and it all appeared normal - pliable and soft like the other side. [It had been hard and swollen the day before].

Then, yesterday, it swelled up again - and today it was even bigger. Today also she was acting more like she didn't feel well - she was roosting in the middle of the day and staying away from the other hens for the most part.

She did come down to eat when I went out to give them treats today, but she definitely seems to be acting "off" now.

As far as I know she has suffered no trauma, there is no blood or redness or anything on the exterior of her chest, it is all swollen underneath the skin. Her poop looks normal and she still has a good appetite.

Any ideas? I've never seen anything like this. Of all our chickens this is the one that is most loved and it will leave us all devastated if something happens to her.

Kelly

 

[gritsar]

Is it in the area of her crop?
Could be a sour crop. Do a search here on BYC, keywords 'sour crop'. See if you think that's what you're dealing with.
Good luck!

 

[The Monkey Mama]

THANK YOU! Yes, it does look like a swollen crop - I googled some pics and that's what it looks like to me.

I will try the ACV and massaging the crop, adding some olive oil soaked bread and some yogurt.

She does not have access to long grass. She has an outside run but all the grass was gone within the first day they were out there [10 months ago? LOL!].

We recently changed their feed from crumbles to 50% crumbles and 50% pellets - could that be her problem? We were trying to switch to pellets to save waste, but maybe being a bantam she is too little to eat pellets?

The get Layena feed and fruit and veggie scraps from our kitchen - mostly apples, melon rinds, pumpkin, and whole grain bread and pasta leftovers recently. Is any of that bad to feed?

Thanks!

Kelly

 

[gritsar]

I double checked Buff Hooligan's Treat Chart which is located here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-Treats_Chart

I don't see anything wrong with what you give her for treats. Maybe she has just been overindulging?
As for the pellets, I really couldn't tell you because I have LF not bantams and they switched from crumbles to pellets just fine.
Here's a bump, so maybe someone else that has bantams could tell you about that issue.
Good luck!

 

[The Monkey Mama]

Thank you! [Thanks for that link too!].

I think I figured it out - she ate pumpkin seeds last week - usually they just get random parts of pumpkin shell but not the insides, but last week I threw them all the guts from our Jack-O-Lantern and she ate quite a few of the seeds... I'm gonna guess that could impact the crop.

Today the lump is gone and I felt around her chest and it is soft and pliable and she seems fine - very energetic, curious, and hungry - like normal.

I am hoping she just had trouble passing the seeds but they are gone now... I guess I'll see over the next few days.

I really appreciate your help!

Kelly