Odd, featherless bump

[feather13]

Hi! My sweet six-month-old hen has been acting lethargic since yesterday. I found her this afternoon wedged into a fence, panting and with her bottom in the air. When I checked her, I noticed a very odd, featherless lump above and to the right of her vent. It feels hard to the touch and is about 3 inches by 1 inch large. I've never seen anything like this. There is no blood or open wound. For reference: she hasn't laid an egg yet and we have an aggressive Frizzle rooster who is her same age.

Any help or advice you could give me would be greatly appreciated. I have isolated her and she is resting in a warm spot. Thank you!

 

[Abriana]

Looks like an injury-maybe due to the fence? Keep it clean and make sure it doesn’t get infected, make sure she’s eating and drinking. Also could possibly be from the rooster, maybe make her a hen saddle (there are patterns online) until she is all healed up. Doesn’t look serious at all. Hope she gets better soon!

 

[feather13]

Thank you for your response! The hen was acting sick yesterday and today seems worse--panting, lethargic, with her bottom up in the air. She was hiding in the fence, but didn't get injured by it. I think she just wanted to isolate herself from the other chickens and rooster by hiding. She's generally a happy, energetic chick who doesn't get picked on by the older hens.

I think there's something going on with her since she is so listless and she has that weird, featherless bump. It's not bleeding and doesn't look cut, but is the only thing I can think of that's causing her symptoms. Thanks for any advice!

 

[micstrachan]

Not sure about the featherless part, but could she have an egg stuck there? Has she started laying yet?

 

[micstrachan]

Is she pooping? Not being able to poop can be quite serious. Do you have access to an avian vet?

 

[feather13]

She is pooping, but it's really runny. She is having an even harder time breathing now. The featherless tumor thing is at the base of her tail, but above her vent. I don't know what to do, so I'm following treatment for an egg bound hen (even though she has never laid an egg).

I put her in a warm salt bath for 20 minutes. She just laid there kind of pathetic. Then I dried her off, wrapped her in warm towels, and she's sleeping in a box inside the house. I'll try to give her some crushed calcium tomorrow, although she hasn't shown any interest in eating or drinking.

There is a vet who treats exotics and I have an appointment with her, but the soonest she could see the hen is tomorrow at 5:40pm, a long time from now.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

wedged into a fence, panting and with her bottom in the air...odd, featherless lump above and to the right of her vent...aggressive Frizzle rooster...acting sick yesterday and today seems worse--panting, lethargic, with her bottom up in the air....she just wanted to isolate herself from the other chickens and rooster by hiding...The featherless tumor thing is at the base of her tail, but above her vent

Hi @feather13 I'm sorry your girl is not doing well

The lump - is it hard or firm? If you tap on it does it sound hollow like it may be filled with air?


The lump looks to be plucked - if she is hiding from the other chickens and the rooster, I wonder if they plucked at her and she has a ruptured air sac.

 

[micstrachan]

Yes, I noticed the look of feathers pulled out, but didn’t know what to make of it. Should have mentioned it. How would an air sack rupture? I believe OP said it was firm. What would that mean?

 

[micstrachan]

@Eggcessive came across a post from 2014 (long before my time here) where you talk of a ruptured air sack and drained it. Do you think that’s a possibility here?i

 

[micstrachan]

Oh! And @casportpony , too. Wouldn’t not have had any idea about this. Thanks @Wyorp Rock .