Maran Rooster has large red lump behind wattle

[playadesilkies]

Hi Friends,

Looking for some help with how to respond to an issue with a black copper Maran rooster that I adopted a few months ago.

We just noticed a large ball / lump / growth (size of a nickel roughly) right behind the wattle of the rooster. Upon further inspection we noticed a much smaller lump in the bottom of the wattle itself.

The lumps feel soft and pliable and rolls around like a marble when touched - not attached past the skin. The color is bright red like the wattle. There is a slightly lighter color on the bottom of the lump.

I cleaned with isopropyl alcohol and attempted to drain the lump with a small syringe in case it was something like a blood blister from an injury, but it appeared to be fatty tissue and not much came out. There was only a bit of blood.

Looking for possible causes that will determine whether I cull him or just watch and wait. It is urgent to me to make a decision to protect the rest of my flock if needed.

Background info:
Age: ~1 year
Has not been weighed but seems hefty, healthy, and otherwise eating / drinking normally.
Adopted with his brother rooster to a flock with ~25 hens, no other roosters.
Flock is otherwise doing well, laying well, and no other active illnesses or injuries noticed.
We have dealt with Marek’s and lost a large percentage of the flock. These hens were vaccinated as chicks and are likely carriers. The two roosters are unlikely to have been vaccinated.
There has been some fighting since the two brother roosters have matured. There is what appears to be bruising and injuries to the comb and wattles of both equally (I’m guessing, don’t have enough experience to know though).

Thank you all! I do not have a lot of experience with chicken injuries and disease other than Marek’s, and hoping to take this opportunity to learn!

 

[Eggcessive]

I would probably watch it to see if it gets larger or shrinks. Some might be tempted to open the wattle and remove it, or lance and see if there is hardened pus. It could be just a cyst, just hard to know. Here is an old thread of a wattle cyst:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-out-of-my-roosters-wattle-what-is-it.635301/

 

[TesoroSena]

Could be a swollen injury from a tussle with his bro for dominance.

 

[playadesilkies]

I would probably watch it to see if it gets larger or shrinks. Some might be tempted to open the wattle and remove it, or lance and see if there is hardened pus. It could be just a cyst, just hard to know. Here is an old thread of a wattle cyst:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-out-of-my-roosters-wattle-what-is-it.635301/

Thank you so much, that thread is very useful as well. It seems unnecessary to open it and further risk infection, so I think your advice of watching it for growth sounds like the best path unless someone else can tell that there’s a risk to the rest of the flock! Thanks again,

 

[playadesilkies]

Could be a swollen injury from a tussle with his bro for dominance.

That’s good to know that this is a possibility. In that case I’m guessing it would heal itself?

 

[Eggcessive]

Let us know what happens. Hopefully, it will disappear or get smaller.

 

[MyParadiseFalls]

Looks like an abscess, stick a sterile needle in and try to drain it, if hardened pus, lance it. Either way after draining fill a syringe with hydrogen peroxide and flush thoroughly twice a day for 3 days.