Lump Hanging behind roosters ear? What is it ??

[JanineM]

Hi everyone, I have noticed tonight my Silky Frizzle Roo has a very large, solid mass of a lump growing.
It is quite heavy so hangs, in one photo, I can see another small one beginning to grow under his right eye. Does anybody have a clue what this could be and what I should do ?.
He is still eating and drinking well, the only one it's bothering seems to be me.
I don't think it will be long before it begins to cause him alot of problems.
Thank you all for looking

Just in anticipation of any comments regarding his comb colour, when he was born it was blue, now changing to red

 

[Redhead Rae]

Looks like an ear infection gone VERY bad, or a tumor. I have no idea how to deal with it.

Let me call in the calvary.

@Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock @azygous @aart @Pyxis @casportpony

 

[JanineM]

Looks like an ear infection gone VERY bad, or a tumor. I have no idea how to deal with it.

Let me call in the calvary.

@Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock @azygous @aart @Pyxis @casportpony

Thank you so much

 

[aart]

Yikes!
Have no clue, sorry.
Blue comb could indicate respiratory issues....and maybe overall anomalies.
Did you hatch this bird?
How old is he?

 

[JanineM]

Yikes!
Have no clue, sorry.
Blue comb could indicate respiratory issues....and maybe overall anomalies.
Did you hatch this bird?
How old is he?

Thank you anyway , hopefully someone has had this issue. He is about 5 months Old, no, I didn't hatch him, though got him very young. He is a cross (blue combed) silkie.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would agree that it is a large infection or possibly a tumor, because of the size. I would be tempted to lance it and try to see if there is solid cheesey yellow material inside which would indicate an infection. Or if there is only blood and tissue, that would probably be evidence of a tumor or cyst. To me it really looks like a cancer because of the appearance the surface. There are 2 viruses in chickens that can cause tumors, and those are Mareks disease and lymphoid leukosis. But there are other types of cancer as well. So sorry that it doesn’t look good.

 

[JanineM]

I would agree that it is a large infection or possibly a tumor, because of the size. I would be tempted to lance it and try to see if there is solid cheesey yellow material inside which would indicate an infection. Or if there is only blood and tissue, that would probably be evidence of a tumor or cyst. To me it really looks like a cancer because of the appearance the surface. There are 2 viruses in chickens that can cause tumors, and those are Mareks disease and lymphoid leukosis. But there are other types of cancer as well. So sorry that it doesn’t look good.

 

[JanineM]

Thank you, you have pretty much confirmed what I was thinking and feeling. We have never had any cases of Mareks or Lymphoid Leukosis thank goodness and the other chickens he lives with are in picture perfect health. I was also debating as to whether to see what was under the scab. Which I will do for interest sake. Thank you for telling me what I may expect underneath. I looks like a MASSIVE bumblefoot on his face..bazaar. I will prepare myself for euthanasia I suppose. Thank you for your helpful and speedy reply, take care

 

[rebrascora]

Unfortunately I agree that it looks like a tumour and at his age Marek's would be the likely cause. It is a very common disease and other birds can appear perfectly healthy and still have the disease which exhibits when they are under stress.... point of lay/adolescence is a common trigger but moving to a new home or harassment from other chickens or confinement due to bad weather or change of hormones during moult can all trigger it or any number of other factors.
I would be inclined to bath it and see if the black crusty surface will debride like a scab. Tumours are pretty vascular, fast growing ones particularly, so I would be dubious about cutting into it, although if it is a tumour the prognosis is poor anyway, so euthanizing would be the responsible option. You might want to consider a necropsy if that is the course of action you take so that you know what you are dealing with.
Hope I am wrong and it is an abscess.

 

[JanineM]

Unfortunately I agree that it looks like a tumour and at his age Marek's would be the likely cause. It is a very common disease and other birds can appear perfectly healthy and still have the disease which exhibits when they are under stress.... point of lay/adolescence is a common trigger but moving to a new home or harassment from other chickens or confinement due to bad weather or change of hormones during moult can all trigger it or any number of other factors.
I would be inclined to bath it and see if the black crusty surface will debride like a scab. Tumours are pretty vascular, fast growing ones particularly, so I would be dubious about cutting into it, although if it is a tumour the prognosis is poor anyway, so euthanizing would be the responsible option. You might want to consider a necropsy if that is the course of action you take so that you know what you are dealing with.
Hope I am wrong and it is an abscess.