Lump next to pullet's eye. What is it?

[Genevieve Automaton]

I'm back with another.. What's going on with my chicken question. So, the pullet in question is a little over 4 months old. She's a black cochin. And she has a pretty nasty looking lump next to just one of her eyes. Only one. Her other eye is perfectly fine. I noticed it about 2 weeks ago, but I thought at first that it was just weird folds in her facial skin, but it's gotten progressively more red and swollen over the past couple of days. As best as I can tell, it's not too hard and kind of squishy. I've been treating it with plain neosporin while I've been waiting for terramycin to arrive from Jedds bird supply. Which finally arrived today.
I have 3 other chickens, none of which are showing anything like the lump that Starr has. Her behavior is normal. She's been eating and drinking normally. Poops are fine. No bubbles in her eye. No weird dripping from her sinuses. No weird smells coming from her either.
I would like to treat this at home first, but as always, taking her to the vet is an option.
Also apologies in advance for the bad picture of her eye. She's squirmy and doesn't stay put for very long.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

It's hard to tell much about the swelling.
Can you have someone hold her and take some clearer photos?

Swaddling the pullet in a towel to capture the wings can be very helpful in controlling her, makes it easier when having to tend to something like an eye or injury too.

General care for swelling of the eye is what you are doing, cleaning/flushing with saline, then applying an ointment.

 

[Genevieve Automaton]

It's hard to tell much about the swelling.
Can you have someone hold her and take some clearer photos?

Swaddling the pullet in a towel to capture the wings can be very helpful in controlling her, makes it easier when having to tend to something like an eye or injury too.

General care for swelling of the eye is what you are doing, cleaning/flushing with saline, then applying an ointment.

I live alone and don't really have anyone to hold her. I did manage a couple more pictures that I hope are a little better

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you for the photos!

Does she have any lesions or canker inside the beak or any pus inside the ear?

Could she have been bitten by an insect or tick?

I'd continue to treat it like you are doing. She's eating/drinking o.k., no other symptoms like coughing/sneezing, etc.?

I'll tag in @Eggcessive to see if she has any thoughts.

 

[Genevieve Automaton]

Thank you for the photos!

Does she have any lesions or canker inside the beak or any pus inside the ear?

Could she have been bitten by an insect or tick?

I'd continue to treat it like you are doing. She's eating/drinking o.k., no other symptoms like coughing/sneezing, etc.?

I'll tag in @Eggcessive to see if she has any thoughts

As best as I can tell, her ear by the lump has a tiny bit of gunk in it which I'm hoping is neosporin. I'll take a better look when I'm giving her the terramycin. The ear on the opposite side of her head is completely clear. No cankers in her mouth. No ticks as they are still indoors at this point in time. Insect bite? Not sure. Only insects I really notice in the house are ants in my kitchen (yay for living in FL where bugs are a plenty) Her appetite is great. She eats and drinks just fine. No coughing, sneezing, wheezing, etc.. Would a peck from another hen possibly cause this? Her "sisters" are a bit overzealous when they play and my 3 year old hen was going after them when I first introduced them. The older hen has calmed down on the going after them but still keeps her distance... they haven't really integrated very well yet. I'm giving them time and grace to figure that out on their own.... Last time I did any flock integration it took almost 2 months for everyone to get along.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

As best as I can tell, her ear by the lump has a tiny bit of gunk in it which I'm hoping is neosporin. I'll take a better look when I'm giving her the terramycin. The ear on the opposite side of her head is completely clear.

A peck could cause some swelling, but since this is getting larger, I'm not sure if that's what it is.

Do look in the ear and let us know if it's ointment or pus/gunk, this would be important to know. If it's gunk in the ear, then likely she has an ear infection which could be the reason for the swelling near the eye.

 

[Genevieve Automaton]

A peck could cause some swelling, but since this is getting larger, I'm not sure if that's what it is.

Do look in the ear and let us know if it's ointment or pus/gunk, this would be important to know. If it's gunk in the ear, then likely she has an ear infection which could be the reason for the swelling near the eye.

So I tried my best to get a good look in her ear, much to Starr's displeasure. I wrapped her up in a towel and shone the brightest flashlight I own in her ear. The stuff in her ear came out with a little bit of help. Not an easy feat with how small she still is and trying to attempt this by myself. It was very thin and yellow-ish and reminded me of earwax if that makes any sense at all. There was only a little bit present in her ear. I wanted to take a photo of it, but it blew away when I picked up the paper towel I had wiped it on I didn't see much of whatever it is/was any further than the opening of her ear canal. I'm going to check periodically tonight and in the morning to see if it comes back at all or if her ear stays clear. And I may ask a friend of mine to come over and hold her so I can have both hands free to examine her.

 

[Genevieve Automaton]

So I checked her ear when I got up and so far, the stuff in her ear hasn't come back. Since I started using the terramycin on the lump next to her eye, it hasn't gotten any bigger. But I also haven't noticed any appreciable changes to it yet. But it's only been 2 days since I started using it. How many times a day should I be applying it? I started with 2, then upped it to 3 as of yesterday.

I spoke with my vet's office today and set up an appointment to have her looked at, just to be on the safe side. If she's going to need antibiotics, I figure I might as well get that in motion.

In the meantime, I still plan on applying the terramycin and checking her ears for gunk.

 

[Eggcessive]

Terramycin ointment can be used 2-3 times a day. I am not sure what the swelling is, but it could be a peck or injury. Tumors can also be common. Watching it for an increase in size would be best.

 

[Genevieve Automaton]

Terramycin ointment can be used 2-3 times a day. I am not sure what the swelling is, but it could be a peck or injury. Tumors can also be common. Watching it for an increase in size would be best.

It's not gotten any bigger, as best as I can tell. The following two photos are from this afternoon. I wanted to see if there had been any changes at all, even if it was negligible.