Lumps and bumps

[birdgirl408]

Hi everyone. Must really apologise for not coming on here for so long, but I suppose things must have been running quite smoothly. Going to have a catch up with the lastest threads in a bit.

I need to ask you lovely people if you have experienced things like 'feather cyst' in your chickens? At least, that is what I think it is, and it is not only one, there is one either side of my chooks body, quite large, the size of a small brussel sprout. They are accompanied what can only be described as a long sack of smaller cysts. I have experienced feather cysts on budgies which is why I think they may be feather cysts. She (Aurelia) is quite an active chook, and my best layer !!! (but broody at present) and is not overweight.

What should I do, I have dealt with bumblefoot, and feather cysts on budgies. Should I leave this well alone? Take her to a vet? Lance it myself (I am confident to be able to do this myself, have successfully treated bumblefoot on several occasions).

Thank you in advance for any advice you can give. Sorry for the large picture, not sure how to resize it.

 

[azygous]

Yes, that's what it appears to be, all right. I've dealt with them on feathered feet. Used a sterilized Exacto knife and nicked the center of the cyst to free the feather follicle, then pulled it free with a tweezers. Then I either coated it with Blu-kote of sprayed Vetericyn on it.

If you have a lot of them, you can make the skin more pliable by soaking in Epsom salt water for a bit before going to work on them.

 

[birdgirl408]

Thank you so much Azygous. The only problem is the two 'sacs' of little ones! They are like peas! I suppose the best thing to do is to leave them to get a little bigger? Good hint with the epsom salts, I always have some handy. Thanks again.

 

[azygous]

You should be able to free up the follicle on those small ones, as well. But try the Epsom salts. It may help them erupt on their own.

 

[birdgirl408]

Thank you so much for your advice azygous. I shall do that.

 

[PippinTheChicken]

Kiwi had lots on her neck at 4 weeks old. They disappeared and came back 4 weeks later. We took her to the vet.
They said they will clear up on their own and prescribed her some Chlorohexidine (pink stuff) to prevent infection.

Kiwi is 12 weeks old now. She still has a small bald patch where they were and straggly feathers around it caused by the chlorohexidine. But there are no more lumps!

 

[birdgirl408]

Thank you Pippin, perhaps then I will attack the two bigger lumps first and see how we go. Thank you again.

 

[birdgirl408]

With my daughter to help, I managed to excise the skin of one of one of Aurelias lumps, it wasn't filled with that awful 'cheesy' mess like I hsve experienced before. It seemed like a lump of grisle. So washed with saline, put Savlon on, that's all I had, and let her lose. She is fine, will check her before bed and keep an eye on the two big lumps. The little ones seem to be diminishing, anyway, I will check over her from time to time and if anything seems amiss it will have to be a visit to the vet. Thank you for your replies and interest.