Large lump/tumor near turkey's oil gland??

[theturkeymom]

Hi there, I'm worried about my turkey hen who has been acting sickly for the past three days.

She looks very miserable, with her tail drooping at all times and her back feathers ruffled. She has little to no appetite (managed to get three little pieces of bread in her yesterday) but is drinking water. She is a little isolated from the flock and always seems to be outside of the group.

Finally I found on the base of her tail at the end of her back a large lump/cyst/tumor right beside her oil gland (about half the size of a golf ball). After checking all my other hens, she was the only one with a lump this big. Very concerning!! This seems to be causing her a lot of discomfort and I want to find out what I can do for her!

I have done some research and the google is telling me it is either a tumor, infection, blockage of the oil gland, or vitamin A deficiency. I'm getting no straight answers! After looking at a few forum posts on Backyard Chickens it sounds like it could be an infection and I need to pop it. I've never done this before, or even know if it's the right thing I should be doing. Any help would be so so appreciated!

Thank you!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I see lots of new feathers coming in. It could be a blocked pore. I'm not sure if I would be opening it up though. I tend to take a wait and see approach.

 

[theturkeymom]

I see lots of new feathers coming in. It could be a blocked pore. I'm not sure if I would be opening it up though. I tend to take a wait and see approach.

Thank you! I'll wait a few more days to see if anything changes

 

[theturkeymom]

The hen has lost a ton of weight - so scary! I let her free range for a while though and she perked up. Even ate some bread, grass, and peanut butter. Won't eat layer pellets. She walks very slowly and looks very weak - her poops are runny (I guess from not eating). No change in the lump but I used a cloth with warm water on it so hopefully it helps.

I suppose it's the waiting game now :/ Any suggestions?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

@casportpony , any ideas?

 

[casportpony]

@theturkeymom , welcome to BYC! I would slice it open and see if I could get any pus out, and I'd probably start her on antibiotics and supportive care. Can you post new pictures of it?

 

[casportpony]

@theturkeymom , pus will probably be hard like this:

Spoiler: Pus pictures - Graphic

 

[Lazy Farmer]

@theturkeymom , pus will probably be hard like this:

Spoiler: Pus pictures - Graphic

 

[Toddstar]

The hen has lost a ton of weight - so scary! I let her free range for a while though and she perked up. Even ate some bread, grass, and peanut butter. Won't eat layer pellets. She walks very slowly and looks very weak - her poops are runny (I guess from not eating). No change in the lump but I used a cloth with warm water on it so hopefully it helps.

I suppose it's the waiting game now :/ Any suggestions?

I have a turkey now exactly the same I sliced it open and the amount of hard pus that came out was gross. One side is still a bit hard. I have put benedine after flushing it with hydrogen peroxide. And then sprayed with centrigen. Will look at it again tomorrow. But it definitely is half the size now after squeezing. Any updates on yours?