Strange growth near eye of young cockerel, could it be pox?

[SSFowler]

I have two 3 month old Mottled Java cockerels and one has a strange 'growth' on his face very near his eye. I am not sure what it is. Anything I have been able to find is fowl pox. This morning we were able to catch him and I applied iodine to it (little creep isn't so trusting now so having trouble catching and in this heat I don't want to stress him so evening is our next attempt). A couple of months ago I had a lavender Orpington roo who also had wart like growths on his face, his were very bad and covered his face so badly he was basically blinded. I tried treating him but ultimately I lost him. I am hoping to have a better outcome this time since I am catching it sooner and it doesn't appear to be as bad, yet. I have 8 hens that haven't had any problems with this and seem quite healthy. My other cockerel is clear so far as well. He seems active and eating and drinking, he has always been smaller than the other boy of the same age though. I am hoping someone knows what it is and how I can treat him. I am also hoping I am able to load the pictures that show this. His eye looks watery in the 2nd picture because I put drops in in case iodine accidently got in it, the growth is so so close to it!

 

[JustBabyMargo]

@Eggcessive @azygous @Wyorp Rock

 

[Eggcessive]

Hard to know, but it could be fowl pox or an abscess. Have you tried to remove the scab? It might be dried pus. His eye has foam, and that can be a sign of mycoplasma (MG.) MG or and eye infection can be a secondary infection during fowl pox, or can be common as a respiratory disease in some backyard flocks. I would apply a warm wet soak to his eye while holding him on my lab on a towel if possible. The you can flush out the eye with saline or eye wash, and apply a dab of Terramycin eye ointment or plain Neosporin ointment twice a day. Let us know if it comes off. I would think if this was pox, he would have a few more scabs on his face, comb, or wattles.

 

[azygous]

I agree with @Eggcessive it's hard to know what it is. Only an avian vet could tell you, which would be a good idea if you can find one and can afford it.

I would continue as you have begun and treat as if it's fowl pox or an eye infection. Bubbling in the eye can occur from just being irritated, not necessarily an infection. Betadine or iodine is safe to use around the eye but it stings like mad. I know this because I've had it in my eye.

I would flush the eye twice a day with saline, and try to keep the iodine on the lesion so it will dry up more quickly. If it is fowl pox, it could endanger the eye.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

What does that feel like?

 

[SSFowler]

Hard to know, but it could be fowl pox or an abscess. Have you tried to remove the scab? It might be dried pus. His eye has foam, and that can be a sign of mycoplasma (MG.) MG or and eye infection can be a secondary infection during fowl pox, or can be common as a respiratory disease in some backyard flocks. I would apply a warm wet soak to his eye while holding him on my lab on a towel if possible. The you can flush out the eye with saline or eye wash, and apply a dab of Terramycin eye ointment or plain Neosporin ointment twice a day. Let us know if it comes off. I would think if this was pox, he would have a few more scabs on his face, comb, or wattles.

I didn't try to remove it because I didn't know if I should. When I firs noticed it last night at coop closing it was flat so I thought it may had been part of a leaf (in this heat they stay under the big tree in their pen) but this morning it looked like the pictures. I hadn't thought of a warm, wet cloth I will have to try that! Thank you! I have Vetericyn plus antimicrobial ophthalmic gel, that is what I used on him this morning also.
Thank you for your help!

 

[SSFowler]

Well, the craziest thing. When I went out to check on him again last night right before closing the coop I was shocked...it was gone!!! It looks like there is still a mark there but the growth like thing is gone! So it got me thinking something and I'm going to get a better look at it here in a bit but I am wondering if he has a scratch or wound of some sort and what I was seeing was dried seepage/scabbing. I am wondering if the hens did it by pecking at him. Just a thought, maybe wishful thinking since that would be easier to deal with than pox. They do tend to go a wee overboard "putting him in his place" with the pecking order ( I suspect because he is the smallest). Opinions?

 

[Eggcessive]

I would still say that it may have been dried gunk from the eye drainage. Are you seeing any more foam or bubbles in the eye?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I didn't try to remove it because I didn't know if I should. When I firs noticed it last night at coop closing it was flat so I thought it may had been part of a leaf

Well, the craziest thing. When I went out to check on him again last night right before closing the coop I was shocked...it was gone!!! It looks like there is still a mark there but the growth like thing is gone!

Well, to me it looked like some type of debris - food or clump-O-poop stuck on his head.
I would still check the eye really well and see if it needs cleaning out and tended to for a few days.

Keep us posted - let us know if you find a wound.