Lump on Neck 😭

[ANiceKaren]

Hey there friends,
I feel a little worried about my almost 5 year old Golden Wyondotte Hazel and was hoping for some advice. The other day I noticed her kind of trying to itch or scratch or was annoyed by something on her neck.. so I felt her neck and noticed what feels like a lump.. hardish lump. (Not her crop) I just noticed it if I ran my hand down her neck.. under her waddles. The past few days when she is walking upright I can kind of feel it but tonight when she was roosting I could feel it more and it almost is as if her head isn’t centered because of this lump.. she is acting normal.. eating, drinking. Free ranging.. here is a pic but it’s very hard to tell.. thoughts on what this could be? The one of her not roosting was just yesterday..I never would have noticed this if she wasn’t trying to preen or rub that area the other day. When she is walking around the yard you’d never notice..

 

[Chicken_Obsesser]

Do you think it could be an abscess of some sort? Or is it more like a tumor?

 

[ANiceKaren]

Do you think it could be an abscess of some sort? Or is it more like a tumor?

That’s my guess… I’m not sure which.. I’m not even sure if it’s something new or has been developing. Like I said, I never would have noticed if I didn’t see her messing with the area. She doesn’t seem to like it when I touch it.

 

[Chicken_Obsesser]

Okay, @azygous would you know anything about this?

 

[azygous]

First of all, as long as a chicken is behaving normally, there is no cause for concern. Chickens get tumors all the time and live normal and sometimes very long lives. I had a hen with a head tumor who lived until nearly fourteen years, and my rooster right now has a leg tumor and is nearly nine.

To determine what the lump is, feel it. If it's rock hard, it's likely a tumor. If it's soft, it's more likely an abscess. You might need to drain it and treat it as an infected wound. If the lump is on the right side of her neck, it could be something caught in the esophagus. You would feel it float.

Watch her behavior. If she scratches it, it doesn't itch, it hurts. That can be something to watch carefully.

 

[ANiceKaren]

First of all, as long as a chicken is behaving normally, there is no cause for concern. Chickens get tumors all the time and live normal and sometimes very long lives. I had a hen with a head tumor who lived until nearly fourteen years, and my rooster right now has a leg tumor and is nearly nine.

To determine what the lump is, feel it. If it's rock hard, it's likely a tumor. If it's soft, it's more likely an abscess. You might need to drain it and treat it as an infected wound. If the lump is on the right side of her neck, it could be something caught in the esophagus. You would feel it float.

Watch her behavior. If she scratches it, it doesn't itch, it hurts. That can be something to watch carefully.

Thank you! I LOVE to hear about your chickens living such long lives!! She was preening it (fussing.. not sure how describe) it the other day but I haven’t seen her do that since. She eats.. drinks… free ranges.. poops are fine and is laying eggs so I’ll keep an eye on it. Like I said this could have been around for a while.. she still enjoys sitting on my lap too! If it IS painful to her what could it be? She doesn’t seem to like me touching it.. but she also doesn’t like me touching her in certain areas ever..?

 

[azygous]

She's very lovely. Have you been able to determine if the lump is stationary or floating? Move the lump with your fingers. An insect bite will move as you move the outer skin. A tumor will feel anchored.

 

[ANiceKaren]

She's very lovely. Have you been able to determine if the lump is stationary or floating? Move the lump with your fingers. An insect bite will move as you move the outer skin. A tumor will feel anchored.

I’ll give it a test today when I get home… it seems big to be an insect bite.. maybe the size of a grape.. she is such a pretty girl. My oldest head hen.

 

[azygous]

I bet you have wood tics there. Could it be a blood swollen tic?

 

[ANiceKaren]

I bet you have wood tics there. Could it be a blood swollen tic?

Probably not BUT perhaps… I would be able to see a tick correct?