Lump under hen’s tongue

[SuperFluffyChickens]

Hello, I’ve been noticing that my 4-yr-old Wyandotte hen has been swallowing with some effort - it doesn’t seem to impede her eating or drinking, she just seems to swallow more noticeably when eating and drinking. She’s otherwise healthy and seems energetic and strong, for her age.

So, I looked inside her throat, and she seems to have a lump growing right underneath her tongue, with some white spots on it - they almost look like they’re coming out of a tiny hole in the lump. Ulcerated I guess would be the technical medical term. Sorry, it was very difficult to get a photo, she was being uncooperative and it’s a tricky place to photograph.

There’s no blood or pus, and it feels soft but not squishy or fluid-filled. When she swallows, you can see the lump “pop out” at the bottom of her beak, almost like an Adam’s apple.

My flock is Marek’s positive, so I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s cancer or a tumor of some sort. For now it doesn’t seem to impede her at all, but I’ll watch her closely.

Anyone seen anything like this before or have any other ideas? Thanks!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

It could be a swollen salivary gland, it's hard to tell.

Do you detect a bad odor or anything like that?

I'm not sure what you can do for it. I'll tag @dawg53 @Eggcessive @coach723 to see if they have any thoughts/suggestions.

 

[SuperFluffyChickens]

It could be a swollen salivary gland, it's hard to tell.

Do you detect a bad odor or anything like that?

I'm not sure what you can do for it. I'll tag @dawg53 @Eggcessive @coach723 to see if they have any thoughts/suggestions.

I didn’t notice a bad odor, although I didn’t really check for that. I’ve noticed her odd swallowing for quite some time now, so I don’t think it’s something that appeared overnight. Thankfully her trachea looked nice and clear, and she’s had no trouble breathing at all. Maybe if I take a video, it’ll be easier to see than a photo - I’ll try that tomorrow.

 

[Eggcessive]

I’ve never seen anything like that, but I thought of Mareks and another virus leukosis, that cause tumors. Could she have been pecked inside her beak by another chicken causing the swelling?

 

[Altairsky]

I would also consider bee or wasp sting.

 

[coach723]

Only other thought is something that may have gotten under the tissue there, foxtail, splinter of something, etc.
I did find the article linked below, which might be helpful, don't panic, initially the recommendation is to euthanize and send for necropsy, but if you keep going there is a case that was treated successfully and the bird recovered. The most likely causes in the article (all the bird images are more severe than yours) were considered to be insect sting, penetrating injury, or tumor. None in the article were necropsied to determine.
https://bitchinchickens.com/2023/02/20/case-study-mucocele-damaged-salivary-gland-in-chickens/

 

[SuperFluffyChickens]

I’ve never seen anything like that, but I thought of Mareks and another virus leukosis, that cause tumors. Could she have been pecked inside her beak by another chicken causing the swelling?

My flock is positive for both Marek’s and Avian Leukosis. This hen isn’t vaccinated, I bought her well before my flock got infected - she’s was one of my first birds.

It’s odd, and I’m far from an expert, but I examined her more thoroughly today and I didn’t notice any smells, and honestly, it looks a lot like a cold sore that humans get inside the mouth. I don’t know if chickens can actually get lesions like that, but Marek’s is a kind of herpes virus…so I don’t know.

At the end of the day, it doesn’t seem to bother her too much so I’ll just be watching her. Even if it is a tumor of some kind there’s not much I can do besides keep her comfy and put her out of her misery if it gets to the point where she can’t eat, drink, or just be a chicken.

I would also consider bee or wasp sting.

Still, thank you for your time and response! I suppose it is possible that she got pecked there, although it’s such an odd place - I have to push her tongue up to even see it. And I guess she could have tried to eat a bee or wasp, that’s bizarre but certainly possible. Ouch!

Only other thought is something that may have gotten under the tissue there, foxtail, splinter of something, etc.
I did find the article linked below, which might be helpful, don't panic, initially the recommendation is to euthanize and send for necropsy, but if you keep going there is a case that was treated successfully and the bird recovered. The most likely causes in the article (all the bird images are more severe than yours) were considered to be insect sting, penetrating injury, or tumor. None in the article were necropsied to determine.
https://bitchinchickens.com/2023/02/20/case-study-mucocele-damaged-salivary-gland-in-chickens/

I actually saw that article while doing a cursory google search, but I don’t think that’s what she has. The article said the mucocele