Suspected feather follicle cyst.

[HollyHay]

Absolutely, and this Queen hates being handled. I’ll wrap her in a towel next time to have a better look at her.
Until now I hadn’t heard of that gland, so hadn’t checked it (just looked it

 

[Ebony Rose]

Could you be describing her (bald, due to molting) preening gland?

 

[HollyHay]

Hi Tycine,
No definitely not. She doesn’t have any bald spots now. She’s finished growing back in her feathers and her comb is reddening back up. And she is now back to her more spritely (alpha chook bullying) habits.
But it’s more of a hump than a lump. And she still can’t raise her tail.
I think my main question is whether you think I should try lancing it, and risking infection? I’m concerned that if I leave it alone, when she starts to lay again she is going to have troubles as she can’t raise her tail.

 

[Ebony Rose]

Hi HollyHay,
I am so sorry that she's got this mysterious hump of a bump on her bumm, and is unable to raise her tail. You're right to be concerned, but I'm at a total loss what this problem is. A lot of what it could be type ideas cross my mind, but I'm sure you've already thought of those alarming possibilities. Lancing is a two-sided coin, you typically lance a wound that is ALREADY infected, hence the lancing to release or remove the buildup of waste and infectious material inside. If you don't think that this is the sort of stuff you'd find within, then I wouldn't lance it. Unless...
If you're going to open her up as an 'exploratory' type surgery, I'd put her on antibiotics a couple days before the surgery and for about five days afterward to thwart infection from setting in (or helping to eliminate an existing infection, if that's the case). A small incision and some 1/2" clear tubing (like you'd find at a hardware store) could enable to you do a very-rough, make-shift 'laparoscopy' type procedure, provided you have another couple hands to help you hold everything in place while you do the surgery. I've seen BIG holes (only skin deep wounds caused by over-exuberant roosters) heal up in a week with nothing more than a rinse with water and a squirt of blue-kote spray. It's not like you intended to cut into muscle... so this could be an option.
I will keep you and your feathered family in my prayers.

 

[HollyHay]

So Vicki’s hump has been getting worse, so I decided to try to lance it. Little prick resulted in a small amount of bleeding, but no puss.
However, she had a lot of bad feathers that were soft and gooey at the skin line, and they all fell out, resulting in quite a bald spot on one part of the hump. Plus, lots of skin issues and dirt.
So I’m guessing that she can’t reach it to preen, and the area is getting bad.
I’ve cleaned it up, and sprayed it with antiseptic. Going to start antibiotics tomorrow.
Anything else to try?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

So Vicki’s hump has been getting worse, so I decided to try to lance it. Little prick resulted in a small amount of bleeding, but no puss.
However, she had a lot of bad feathers that were soft and gooey at the skin line, and they all fell out, resulting in quite a bald spot on one part of the hump. Plus, lots of skin issues and dirt.
So I’m guessing that she can’t reach it to preen, and the area is getting bad.
I’ve cleaned it up, and sprayed it with antiseptic. Going to start antibiotics tomorrow.
Anything else to try?

What antibiotics are you going to use?
I think you have are doing good. I would keep flies away for sure, you don't want them laying eggs on her.

 

[hispoptart]

Can you post a more recent picture?

 

[HollyHay]

Im using liquid antibiotics (we don’t have a lot of options in Australia).
And I’ve just caught her to spray her hump again. Basically she has a big swollen cushion, rather than a particular lump.
The yellow colour is the spray, the skin is quite white underneath

 

[HollyHay]

She also seems to have a lot of polyfollicles - multiple feather from one follicle. They kind of look like hairs coming from the feather follicle. I read that could be a virus or a nutritional deficiency

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She also seems to have a lot of polyfollicles - multiple feather from one follicle. They kind of look like hairs coming from the feather follicle. I read that could be a virus or a nutritional deficiency

Could be from a virus like Marek's. Have you ever dealt with Marek's in the past?
If you had read up and found that it's possible it could be nutritional deficiency, then I would be inclined to tweak/add what is recommended - if you don't mind sharing what you found, that would be good to know what vitamins/minerals are recommended.