Rooster Has a solid ball shaped mass in neck, can't hold head up anymore.

[camochick96]

We stuck the needle in and squeezed it until nothing else would come out then removed the needle and spayed it with vetericyn.

 

[camochick96]

Yeah if it’s puss it will likely be chunky, but it could be colored liquid. Also expect a horrible smell if it is an abscess. Hopefully that’s all it is! Keep us posted!

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Chickens can suffer from lymphomas and sarcoma tumors from viruses. Lymphoid leukosis and Mareks disease are 2 common viruses that affect chickens, and cause tumors. With these types of tumors, they will frequently suffer from dehydration and weight loss, and have low energy.

When chicken owners have the possibility of either an abscess, cyst, or a tumor, it can be helpful to take a large 18 gauge needle and syringe, and try to aspirate or suck out some fluid or pus. If nothing comes out, it is most likely a tumor. Let us know if you find out what is going on.

If you lose him, I would try to get a necropsy performed by your state poultry lab.

Excellent idea! X2!

For some reason this just now popped up, after I responded to Camochick96. I will go ahead and see if I can get anything to drain out this evening once my husband is home. Thank you so much for the words of wisdom, it's greatly appreciated!

I wish I could help here, but I am at a loss. I would most definitely try to drain it if it was my bird. Do you know how suddenly it came on him? If I couldn’t get anything to drain, I would consider euthanizing. So sorry you’re dealing with this.

At this point, I don't think there is much to lose by trying to drain it. If nothing comes out, I would consider putting this bird down if it were mine. I think if it continues to grow, it will eventually occlude his airway and slowly suffocate him.

Agreed also.

 

[camochick96]

Did you try to drain it?

 

[camochick96]

I was really hoping that it’d be full of puss and that’d be the end of it! Probably is a tumor of some kind. Hope he continues to act better, even though that sounds unlikely at this point.

 

[Bocktobery 10]

Alright, time for an update. So sorry for everyone who has been waiting.........

Thanks for getting back to us... I just wanted to ask though... did you notice any bad smells? My hen (I may have posts here.. not sure) had a big lump on the side of her head that I had the vet remove, and i do think it was kind of hard and fleshy, not gooy, but one thing was for certain, it smelled when she cut it open.

If your rooster's neck growth smelled bad, its very possible that its some sort of infection or abscess, and if so, it is one of those things, typically, that don't cost a lot for the vet to remove. Its a somewhat simple procedure for them.. albeit, sometimes very stinky.

I hope your roo gets some solutions to his problem. He is very lucky to have you!

 

[micstrachan]

I slso see his comb is turning blue. There are no respiratory symptoms whatsoever? No open mouth breathing? The fact that it is perfectly spherical also seems like it could be a cyst of some kind?

 

[Incukahlan]

Also, I did check out his throat very thoroughly. I can feel that everything is normal in there. It seems to start right below his ear, and upper neck, but does not go into his throat.

 

[micstrachan]

I am so sorry that I am unable to help! Do you know how quicky this came on? Is the mass warmer to the touch than the rest of him? It does not appear pink (like infection) in the photo. This is an odd one. I hope someone here is able to help.

 

[Bocktobery 10]

I had something like this in one of my hens, though she did not have an ear hole, and I guess somehow it got infected in there and continued to grow. The vet thought it was an abscess.. as if it got an infected insect bite. (By the way, I think abscesses can be hard) She operated on it and cleaned it out. It eventually started to grow back. It wasn't a bug bite like she thought but something to do with her malformed ear- but perhaps a bug bite is what happened with your little fella there . I would assume it will need to be cut open, emptied and cleaned out thoroughly by a vet. Also, to me it seems like it could be sinus related. Coryza? <-- Do a search on that term... Maybe you will notice some similarities?

Is it squishy or hard? It is heavy? Can you smell any bad smells coming from the nostrils or open mouth of the rooster? If you smell bad smells, its probably infected. I don't know though... something like this to me I say it needs to be cut open by someone who knows what they are doing. Are you sure you can't just take him to the vet?