Lump on Face/Loss of feathers/Not laying/Help

[donnerbrandpears]

Hello! I had three hens, and about a month ago, two of the three stopped laying. I couldn't figure out why. I increased shells and protein in the food, let them out to forage more, made sure they had fresh water and ... nothing.

One hen is about a 1 1/2 years and the other, the black one, is about 4 years old. They've been reliable layers. They're energetic, eating well, drinking normal water, and their feathers are gleaming. BUT I noticed that my black one has a lump on her head. It looks exactly like this one from <a href="https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/lump-on-hens-face.796098/">this thread.</a> The lump is hard to the touch. There's no sneezing or heavy breathing. She is also missing some feathers on her neck and it's not molting. Do these symptoms--hard lump, missing feathers, not laying--sound familiar to you?

Since she is 4, she may have an end-of-life disease, but that doesn't explain why the other chicken stopped laying...? I have two new young ones in the same cage, so need to know what's wrong, if it's contagious. Not taking chickens to the vet. Please help.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Missing feathers on the neck could be due to pecking or depending on the location, if you have a rooster it could be from mating.

A lump on the face (if you have a photo of your hen that would be good) could be from a lot of things - a peck/injury, bug bite, infection, etc.

Not laying eggs - she is 4 so she may be going out of lay to begin molting or she could be starting to have some reproductive problems - feel her abdomen for bloat/swelling of feeling of fluid.

Weather and stress also have an impact on laying so these are things to consider as well.

 

[donnerbrandpears]

Thanks. This is a picture from the thread I referenced above, but the lump looks exactly like this. I don't have a rooster and I don't think it's pecking. She's the top hen and they are pretty gentle and don't seem to attack each other. It could be molting, but she just molted a couple of months ago, so it would be strange for it to happen again so soon. The other hen, which is 1 1/2 years old also stopped laying, and she's not losing any feathers.

 

[donnerbrandpears]

I should add that she's ruffling her feathers a lot. Does anyone know what this could be?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Check her for lice and mites.
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification/

 

[donnerbrandpears]

They DO have mites! Thanks for that. Is that enough to make them stop laying?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

They DO have mites! Thanks for that. Is that enough to make them stop laying?

If a mite infestation is severe enough it could impact egg laying. You don't mention where you live (country?) All of them could be getting ready to molt or since you free range some, they may have a hidden nest.

 

[donnerbrandpears]

I live in Northern California. The mites are not severe. I did see them on the black chicken, but I had to hunt around for them. I'm going to take care of it today.

I guess it could be molting. I hope so. It doesn't explain the lump on the black one's face though...

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I live in Northern California. The mites are not severe. I did see them on the black chicken, but I had to hunt around for them. I'm going to take care of it today.

I guess it could be molting. I hope so. It doesn't explain the lump on the black one's face though...

Has the lump reduced in size? It could be a number of things - abscess, cyst, hardened pus from a peck or insect bite, cancer or sinus infection. Look closely at the lump to see if there is any indication of a scab. A vet can lance it to see what it is.

 

[donnerbrandpears]

I think the lump has grown a bit. Here's a picture of my bird (the image above was from another thread). There's no scab. It's hard to the touch and doesn't hurt/isn't sensitive. I don't want to take her to the vet...