Large black growth on chicken's face

[e_lafont]

I'm posting this for my mom because I've never seen this before.....

When my 10 yo daughter was helping my mom check for eggs today, she noticed one of her Orpington hens had a swollen face and some sort of black growth. There also seems to be some nasal discharge. Mom didn't notice her acting strange this morning, but that just means that all chickens came to eat when fed this morning. Her chickens are used for eggs and meat, they aren't pets.

I don't know what her poo looks like because they checked for eggs before sundown when the herbs are starting to make their way into the coop, but she seemed alert when I sent in to see her. Aside from an obviously painful, swollen face she was acting like any other hen. I guess I'm just looking for advice as to whether this is contagious, treatable, etc. My dad was ready to dispatch her for fear that it might spread to the others, but I thought I'd try here first.

Photos attached.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Does anyone else have signs of this?

Is the discharge from both nasal passages? Or just the affected side.

It could be viral fowl pox, which is very contagious. It typically runs its course, but it makes birds miserable. If it is dry pox, it stays in the comb and face parts. If it is wet pox, it goes into the throat and can make it very difficult to eat, even threatening a bird's life.

I'll link an article for fowl pox so you can assess if it might be that.
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/fowl-pox-prevention-treatmen/

It might be a singular benign tumor or skin mass. I've had weird skin tumors that stayed with just one bird and never passed to any other. I did generally end up culling the bird as the tumor grew and quality of life suffered. Usually, not always, if the tumor moves freely and doesn't seem to be rooted, it is benign. If it is hard, and rooted, it is cancerous.

Then, if it is squishy, it could be a sign of nasal infection. A number of contagious poultry diseases cause sinus swelling.
http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/sinusitis

Marek's is also a possibility as it can be the strain that causes skin tumors. However, your flock would have long been exposed, and typically it is a series of raised follicles rather than a singular tumor.

To me, it looks like the start of fowl pox, but it could be other things too.

LofMc

 

[dawg53]

Open her mouth and look for any lesions. Let us know what you see.

 

[e_lafont]

Does anyone else have signs of this?

Is the discharge from both nasal passages? Or just the affected side.

It could be viral fowl pox, which is very contagious. It typically runs its course, but it makes birds miserable. If it is dry pox, it stays in the comb and face parts. If it is wet pox, it goes into the throat and can make it very difficult to eat, even threatening a bird's life.

I'll link an article for fowl pox so you can assess if it might be that.
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/fowl-pox-prevention-treatmen/

It might be a singular benign tumor or skin mass. I've had weird skin tumors that stayed with just one bird and never passed to any other. I did generally end up culling the bird as the tumor grew and quality of life suffered. Usually, not always, if the tumor moves freely and doesn't seem to be rooted, it is benign. If it is hard, and rooted, it is cancerous.

Then, if it is squishy, it could be a sign of nasal infection. A number of contagious poultry diseases cause sinus swelling.
http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/sinusitis

Marek's is also a possibility as it can be the strain that causes skin tumors. However, your flock would have long been exposed, and typically it is a series of raised follicles rather than a singular tumor.

To me, it looks like the start of fowl pox, but it could be other things too.

LofMc

None of the other chickens are showing any signs of things at all. All chickens (including this hen) are acting and eating/drinking normal.
I checked her skin today and didn't notice any lesions or growths. The discharge seems to be gone. I also opened her beak to look in her mouth. The black "scab" is inside her mouth on that side as well. It doesn't seem to be in her throat or on the other side.

After doing some research, I was thinking maybe canker/trichomoniasis?

 

[e_lafont]

Open her mouth and look for any lesions. Let us know what you see.

The black "scab" is inside her mouth on that side, but doesn't seem to be in her throat or on the other side. Maybe canker/trichomoniasis?

 

[e_lafont]

Does anyone else have signs of this?

Is the discharge from both nasal passages? Or just the affected side.

It could be viral fowl pox, which is very contagious. It typically runs its course, but it makes birds miserable. If it is dry pox, it stays in the comb and face parts. If it is wet pox, it goes into the throat and can make it very difficult to eat, even threatening a bird's life.

I'll link an article for fowl pox so you can assess if it might be that.
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/fowl-pox-prevention-treatmen/

It might be a singular benign tumor or skin mass. I've had weird skin tumors that stayed with just one bird and never passed to any other. I did generally end up culling the bird as the tumor grew and quality of life suffered. Usually, not always, if the tumor moves freely and doesn't seem to be rooted, it is benign. If it is hard, and rooted, it is cancerous.

Then, if it is squishy, it could be a sign of nasal infection. A number of contagious poultry diseases cause sinus swelling.
http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/sinusitis

Marek's is also a possibility as it can be the strain that causes skin tumors. However, your flock would have long been exposed, and typically it is a series of raised follicles rather than a singular tumor.

To me, it looks like the start of fowl pox, but it could be other things too.

LofMc

Oh, and it feels hard. It doesn't move around at all.

 

[dawg53]

It may be canker. If there's a foul odor, it's canker. Otherwise it might be some type of tumor, perhaps cancerous.
It wouldnt hurt to get her started on metronidazole. If it's canker, metronidazole will clear it up. Keep her away from other birds, canker is contagious.
Metronidazole dosage in this instance would be two 250mg tablets once a day for 5-7 days. Here's a link where you can buy it:
https://www.revivalanimal.com/product/fish-zole/all-pet-supplies-medications-bird-fish-antibiotics

 

[e_lafont]

It may be canker. If there's a foul odor, it's canker. Otherwise it might be some type of tumor, perhaps cancerous.
It wouldnt hurt to get her started on metronidazole. If it's canker, metronidazole will clear it up. Keep her away from other birds, canker is contagious.
Metronidazole dosage in this instance would be two 250mg tablets once a day for 5-7 days. Here's a link where you can buy it:
https://www.revivalanimal.com/product/fish-zole/all-pet-supplies-medications-bird-fish-antibiotics

Thank you so much for taking the time to give me advice. I really appreciate it!

 

[Eggcessive]

I think it looks like cancer. She may just look so poorly and have a watery eye due to it being advanced. I would probably think about putting her down to end any suffering. Chickens can suffer from lymphomas and sarcoms. Some may be related to viruses that chickens can have. For what it’s worth, my husband, a pathologist, thinks it looks like cancer as well. I would get a necropsy on the body if it is refrigerated promptly. Contact your state poultry lab here:
http://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

 

[Eggcessive]

The lesion is certainly in the area that canker may be seen, so I would use you own judgement on whether or not to treat for canker. Here is a better link for contacting your state vet or poultry lab for a necropsy:
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/nahln/downloads/all_nahln_lab_list.pdf
Here is some info on canker:
http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/canker