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If it bursts then that means the infection will drain, which will help it heal, try using warm water instead of cold, to help draw out the infection.
If you have a sterile needle, try seeing if you can draw any of the puss out with it, if all you get is blood, you have a problem. If its puss, then you know what you are working with.
Just try the warm water this time, and see if it helps. *My mothers advice, she is a vet tech and worked with wild birds such as hawks, she said that this haponed to a red tail who was struck by a car. she also says best of luck*
The other thing that she said, is that sometimes infection migrates and "pockets" itself. If this is what happened then the infection has pocketed itself on the side of his face. This also means that if its bursts then the infection will leave the pocket and theoretically he will get better.
Deep breath and try not to panic!
We just moved so I will have to look around for the box that has the seeing needles in it. I'm so scared to put a needle so close to his eye! Also, what if it is just swelling and there isn't puss? Oh why does this chicken have to worry me so.
Tell your mom I said thanks for the expertise and that I will do as she said
She says to definitely be careful if its near his eye, and to keep him as still as possible without hurting him. If your going to do the needle thing, you need to find the center, or close to center as possible to insert it, watch out for blood vessel's, and try to be as in-invasive as possible. She said that if its just swelling, then you have to worry about fractures around the jaw or eye, or broken blood vessels in that area that could be causing blood pooling. If its just swelling, then it could be many different things, she still suggests soaking the area in a warm epsom salt soak.
She also said that the red tail had swelling on the side of his face and neck, they were able to lance it or something like that, and keep it clean. She seems to think that this is the same case, an infected bruise.
Again, be careful, and if he makes to much of a fuss, just keep soaking it.