Lump on Hen's Chest!

[Michellep224]

This is my Lady, Boss.
She is the hen in charge of the others.
Boss has looked like this since I got her in April. The lump on her chest has gotten bigger and bigger. It's about the size of a ping pong ball.
She is missing feathers EVERYWHERE.
She is secluded, because I put a new pullet in, and she is the main bully.

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

I’m afraid your pic is not showing up?

 

[Michellep224]

Oops! I've been having issues posting pics all day >_<
Here they are!
Like I said; Boss was given to me in April, and looks pretty much the same as what she did when I got her. I've researched a little on molt, as that is what I told was going on, but this is not molt.
She was the hen in charge, but has been separate from the rest of the flock for weeks, so this isn't a feather-plucking bullying issue either.. her feathers would have started coming back by now. She does have some pin feathers, though.
My worry is that Boss is sick. This lump has gotten more and more noticable. Is there anything I can do about it?
I do not have the money for a vet.

As for her behavior, Boss is a normal chicken. She eats well, and is very active. She gobbles up treats, and talks back to you. She lays eggs now and then, always healthy.

What do y'all think?

 

[BlackHackle]

Oops! I've been having issues posting pics all day >_<
Here they are!
Like I said; Boss was given to me in April, and looks pretty much the same as what she did when I got her. I've researched a little on molt, as that is what I told was going on, but this is not molt.
She was the hen in charge, but has been separate from the rest of the flock for weeks, so this isn't a feather-plucking bullying issue either.. her feathers would have started coming back by now. She does have some pin feathers, though.
My worry is that Boss is sick. This lump has gotten more and more noticable. Is there anything I can do about it?
I do not have the money for a vet.

As for her behavior, Boss is a normal chicken. She eats well, and is very active. She gobbles up treats, and talks back to you. She lays eggs now and then, always healthy.

What do y'all think?

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That's a pretty excessive molt. I've never had a chicken molt that way in 10 years.

 

[Michellep224]

That's why I'm not sure it's molt. :\
She has me worried..

 

[BlackHackle]

That's why I'm not sure it's molt. :\
She has me worried..

It looks like she has an inflamed crop

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Have you tried withholding feed for 12 to 24 hours and checking her crop to see if it changes?

 

[Michellep224]

I can do that..
That won't hurt her, will it?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I can do that..
That won't hurt her, will it?

No, it wont hurt her. The easiest way to start is to pull her at roost time and put her in a cage... this not only cuts access to feed (do give water) but allows for easy stool check as opposed to just pulling the feeder(s) from the whole flock. In the morning see what change, if any, there is in her crop.

 

[Michellep224]

She is already separate from flock because she was the main bully to my new pullet. I won't feed her tomorrow and see how she does.
Thanks, y'all. I'll post an update for her tomorrow evening. In the meantime, if you have other ideas, please let me know.