Large growth on hen’s head

[Mirandamcg]

Hi all! I’m new to chickens this year and one of my young hens (hatched in March) has a very large and firm growth on her head. It seems to have grown rather quickly as I haven’t noticed it until today and I see her every morning. Any thoughts on what it is? Should I be concerned? Of course she’s one of our favorites. My little ones (4 and 2) just love her because she’s very docile and friendly, so hoping it’s not serious and/or treatable. TIA!

 

[Sally PB]

Can you get a picture of it with the feathers parted so we can see the skin?

 

[Mirandamcg]

Can you get a picture of it with the feathers parted so we can see the skin?

They’re not the clearest but the best I could get. The mass is pretty solid and doesn’t seem to be attached as you can move it around

 

[Sally PB]

In the third one (far right, top row), I think I see what might be an ingrown feather...? The brown bump.

I have never seen an ingrown feather (or picture of one) that made a lump that large, but maybe that's what it is?

If that brown thing is an ingrown feather, you might be able to pull it out. There may be a large lump of pus in there with the feather. Pus in chickens is NOT liquid, as it is for humans. It's more like a cheesy texture.

I'm going to tag more knowledgeable people to take a look.
@Wyorp Rock @azygous

 

[Mirandamcg]

In the third one (far right, top row), I think I see what might be an ingrown feather...? The brown bump.

I have never seen an ingrown feather (or picture of one) that made a lump that large, but maybe that's what it is?

If that brown thing is an ingrown feather, you might be able to pull it out. There may be a large lump of pus in there with the feather. Pus in chickens is NOT liquid, as it is for humans. It's more like a cheesy texture.

I'm going to tag more knowledgeable people to take a look.
@Wyorp Rock @azygous

Thank you!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Welcome To BYC

Hard to tell if that's an impacted feather follicle or a small wound (peck or poke).
I would investigate that further.
A warm compress to see if anything comes out. Apply triple antibiotic ointment to the scab.
Keep us posted.

 

[Mirandamcg]

Hi all, just wanted to give an update. I ended up taking Bingo to the vet and they confirmed it was an abscess. They recommended removing it given the size and location. Unfortunately she didn’t make it through the procedure. The vet said he doesn’t know what happened. He was able to dig out the material in the abscess and was basically just flushing it out when she suddenly startled and was gone.

The vet said he’s had chickens all his life and had never seen an abscess that large on a hens head before, so it’s unlikely we’d have this come up again.

But in the future, if we see any other abscess issues, is there anything you guys would recommend doing differently? Or is there a less risky option to take care of it at home?

I feel quite gutted over the situation. Not that I want this to happen to any of our chickens, but she really has been one of our favorites since we first got our chicks. We’re planning to bury her on the farm and will honor her in some way.

 

[RubelliteRose]

I'm so sorry for your loss.

 

[Sally PB]

I'm sorry you lost her. Thank you for the update.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi all, just wanted to give an update. I ended up taking Bingo to the vet and they confirmed it was an abscess. They recommended removing it given the size and location. Unfortunately she didn’t make it through the procedure. The vet said he doesn’t know what happened. He was able to dig out the material in the abscess and was basically just flushing it out when she suddenly startled and was gone.

The vet said he’s had chickens all his life and had never seen an abscess that large on a hens head before, so it’s unlikely we’d have this come up again.

But in the future, if we see any other abscess issues, is there anything you guys would recommend doing differently? Or is there a less risky option to take care of it at home?

I feel quite gutted over the situation. Not that I want this to happen to any of our chickens, but she really has been one of our favorites since we first got our chicks. We’re planning to bury her on the farm and will honor her in some way.

I'm sorry to hear about Bingo.