large lump below vent

[Dianekw]

One of my almost two year old Buff Orps has had this lump under her vent. She acts completely normal, comb/wattles bright red, lays eggs, eats, drinks, picks on the one chicken lower in the pecking order, and takes her blows from the higher up girls with dignity(runs away, but goes on about her business right away), so other than this balding lump, shes totally fine. I dont know if she's doing it herself, or if someone's picking some of the feathers out, but some are broken and/or missing.

Now the lump...its about tennis ball sized, begins about two inches below her vent, and feels like a fatty blob(kinda like what our black labs get,when they're older.) The lump has been there for many months, seems to be getting bigger with time. I never really worried before cuz all of the above "normalness". I was looking at her today, and when I put her down, i saw blood all over my sleeve, and all of a sudden one of the other hens was going at her with a vengeance, so i brought her inside to clean her up and have a closer look. I couldnt find a wound, and she was kinda dirty, so i bathed her. As i was drying her, I realized it was her back toe that was bleeding....maybe she ripped the nail earlier...totally unrelated. back to the lump...I took some pics while she was still wet(easier to see past the fluff).

dry, it looks much less bad, but you also cant really see anything except that shes swollen enough to show skin between feather shafts.

Any ideas what this could be??? is it most likely just a fat blob cuz she does like to be first in line for treats, but none of the other girls have even the slightest bulge there, and she really doesnt get more treats. Or should I be worried? ...what else might this be???? I called the vet for advice, but they wont say a thing til they've seen her, and where I live, that means about a $200 minimum bill...for what might just end up bein' an "i dont know" or a "probably nothing, but we can run some tests"(for another $3-500). As much as I love my girls, they ARE "just chickens", and c'mon....really? this could end up costing me a grand, with no real resolution... I'm just looking for advice...anyone?

 

[micstrachan]

I think it actually may BE a “fat blob,” as you called it. It could be a fatty deposit. I would cut the treats, as they can lead to fatty liver disease.
Coincidentally, I have a hen right now who has a similar bulge, though a little less pronounced and not red, who is clearly not feeling well. I hope your girl stays well!

 

[Dianekw]

Thanks for the response! And I'm sorry your girl is similarly lumpy :-\ I hope she feels better soon. The thing is, Blanche doesn't seem to be feeling bad at all. If I didn't see a lump on her bum, I wouldn't think anything was different at all. She runs around the yard and digs and pecks and preens and rests and dustbathes just like all the other chickens...I cant say she seems to be feeling "off" at all! I know chickens(like our dogs) tend to hide when they're not feeling good, but there's usually SOMEthing that gives it away...with Blanche...nothing!

The "treats" I give the girls is mostly vegetable scraps/peels, some fruits here and there, and the occasional bit of bread or rice...and I do mean "bit". Between the 9 of em, less than a cup total per day if that...so less than a couple of tablespoons per chicken. I'm pretty good about spreading it out, and while Blanche does like to show up front and center when there's treats, I do make sure the others get at least as much as she does, so she's not "sneaking" more. Maybe she's got a slow metabolism? (I totally sympathize with that! ;-/)

 

[micstrachan]

Yay to Blanche feeling well! My girl (Ruby) just started showing signs of feeling unwell yesterday. Yesterday was subtle. Today not so much. I hope Blanche stays happy and healthy!