Lumps/cysts developing all over chicken’s head and neck! Help!

[Iriskandi]

Ok. Thank you. Information online can be hard to extrapolate at times with some conflicting ideas on treatment. Should I treat the scabs with ointment/iodine like I have read?

 

[casportpony]

Ok. Thank you. Information online can be hard to extrapolate at times with some conflicting ideas on treatment. Should I treat the scabs with ointment/iodine like I have read?

When mine got it I treated some by picking the scabs off and placing iodine on them holes it left, and some I left the scabs in place and did nothing alone. The mild cases like your hen I just left alone, though I did weigh them daily. Putting iodine on them won't hurt, and it might even help.

 

[Iriskandi]

Thank you so much! I’m going to keep doing what I have been doing so far just making sure she is drinking and eating and possibly treat her scabs. I’ll get that scale to so I can check her daily.

 

[casportpony]

Thank you so much! I’m going to keep doing what I have been doing so far just making sure she is drinking and eating and possibly treat her scabs. I’ll get that scale to so I can check her daily.

Sounds like a great plan! If she worsens, please let us know!

 

[Iriskandi]

Well I just wanted to update. She has put on a tiny bit of weight, but the cysts have gotten bigger and show no sign of stopping. Her left eye is completely swollen shut. Her mood is positive, but she seems weak. She seemed to have slightly labored breathing tonight when I had her walk around for me. Her airway is clear. I have tried to pick off cysts, but they won’t budge. And when I try, it is clearly uncomfortable. I am wondering if it is time to take her to the vet. I don’t know what to do for her. I feel pretty helpless.

 

[casportpony]

If you can afford to take her to a vet you should.

 

[rebrascora]

I'm wondering if this might be Marek's. I've not had one with skin lesions but I know it is possible. The lack of body condition despite eating well may be another indication. She is the prime age for it.

 

[casportpony]

I'm wondering if this might be Marek's. I've not had one with skin lesions but I know it is possible. The lack of body condition despite eating well may be another indication. She is the prime age for it.

X2, I was just thinking that.

 

[Iriskandi]

I was afraid of that. And I have her with her sister and a couple of other birds that I am trying to fatten up in a large hospital brooder. We’ll be separating birds tonight. I nearly separated her last night but she started to panic being away from her sister.

So not only is she going to die (She follows me around when she was out with the group and had been a star patient) now I’m going to lose those birds too?

I agreed that it could be fowl pox. But no cysts or anything on her comb and waddles...

 

[casportpony]

Take her to a vet if you can afford to. If it is Marek's, that doesn't mean your whole flock is going to die. . Can you post new pictures?