Light Sussex hen with hard red lump under beak

[Skyecosmos]

It's a bit tricky to see inside but it looks a bit like a cream coloured/grey growth with a scab on. It smells a bit "off' now but the lump on the outside seems to be going down a bit and not as hard. Her tongue seems fine. I've probed a bit but she got really stressed about it so I stopped

 

[Skyecosmos]

Good questions.

I think I replied earlier in the wrong place! It doesn't seem to be growing any more than it is now - no obvious strong odour but couldn't get too far into her mouth to check. I think the stuff inside her mouth looks a bit better. Today she managed some harder food for the first time in a week. I've been syringing thyme water into her mouth which seems to be soothing it a bit, but might be coincidence! Any ideas what else I should do or just watch and wait? Thank you

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Is the lump on the outside going down too?
If the Thyme water seems to be helping, I think I would continue with that for a few more days and see what happens.

 

[Eggcessive]

Thyme is sometimes used by some to treat canker. I don’t know a lot about that, but it is interesting that it seems to be helping.

 

[Skyecosmos]

Thyme is sometimes used by some to treat canker. I don’t know a lot about that, but it is interesting that it seems to be helping.

Thyme is sometimes used by some to treat canker. I don’t know a lot about that, but it is interesting that it seems to be helping.

So it's been nearly 2 weeks now and she is still ok in herself and lively but still has the lump and unable to swallow properly so can't eat hard pellets. I'm giving her thyme infusion still. Her mouth doesn't look great inside and she smells more 'off' than she did. I don't know what else to do. At which point do you give up on them?!

 

[PippinTheChicken]

Can you get to a vet?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

So it's been nearly 2 weeks now and she is still ok in herself and lively but still has the lump and unable to swallow properly so can't eat hard pellets. I'm giving her thyme infusion still. Her mouth doesn't look great inside and she smells more 'off' than she did. I don't know what else to do. At which point do you give up on them?!

You can try Metronidazole to see if that helps.

 

[Skyecosmos]

Sadly we can't get prescriptions like that in the UK without a vet doing it and I can't take her to a vet

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Sadly we can't get prescriptions like that in the UK without a vet doing it and I can't take her to a vet

Can you get Acidified Copper Sulfate?

You could also try Ronidazole, might be worth a shot at this point. I don't believe it's approved for use in poultry in the US, so very likely not in the UK either. Do your research on egg throwaway periods.
https://www.harkersonline.co.uk/product/treatments/harkanker-100ml-canker-treatment/

 

[Skyecosmos]

Thanks to everyone for their advice. Sadly she suddenly wasn't doing so well and I felt the kindest thing after 3 weeks of nursing her was to stop her suffering any more. We had a long, lovely cuddle in the winter sunshine before I dispatched her (I hate that job, but my allotment neighbour who used to oblige has moved on, so needs must) which made it a bit easier to bear