Swelling & Cysts all around neck

[BHFarm]

Hi,
It’s been a weird winter with weird issues. I’m at a loss with this girl.

I have a hen, 5ish yrs old, who had swollen ears 10 days ago. I put her inside and gave Benadryl to see if it would help. It has not helped. I gave her tiagard which also has not helped.

Below are my findings-

No discharge, eye swelling, sneezing, mouth breathing or sounds in her lungs

A few days after I noticed the ears I realized it had spread to her neck (or vice versa)

She had lice nits only in the lumps around her neck, no where else on her body

Treated for bugs

The swelling keeps getting bigger but is larger on her left side

The swelling has now made a ring around her neck, back of neck looks like cyst but front looks like fluid and she has a slight wheezing now that it’s circled her neck

Waddles are not swollen but comb looks slightly bigger as of yesterday

I see nothing in her mouth and no foul smells

I aspirated her neck and nothing came out but it did bleed

She’s eating well but poop is green

She’s chipper and seems in good spirits

No one else in the flock is showing any symptoms like her

Any help is appreciated!! Pics are from day 9 and 10. I can post videos and pics from day 1 if needed.

 

[azygous]

This is crucial. What is your location? It's important in trying to figure out what this is. County and state or province.

 

[BHFarm]

This is crucial. What is your location? It's important in trying to figure out what this is. County and state or province.

I’m in Maine, Washington county

 

[azygous]

Thank you. Four years ago there was an incident of Newcastle disease in a backyard flock in your area. The symptoms your chicken is showing could be in line with Newcastle symptoms. It could also be from fowl cholera. The first one is reportable to the county. That means, a suspected case can be confirmed for you if you contact your state animal testing lab.

This is important because both diseases are extremely contagious and pose a serious threat to the rest of your flock.

Fowl cholera can be treated. Newcastle, not.

 

[BHFarm]

Thank you. Four years ago there was an incident of Newcastle disease in a backyard flock in your area. The symptoms your chicken is showing could be in line with Newcastle symptoms. It could also be from fowl cholera. The first one is reportable to the county. That means, a suspected case can be confirmed for you if you contact your state animal testing lab.

This is important because both diseases are extremely contagious and pose a serious threat to the rest of your flock.

Fowl cholera can be treated. Newcastle, not.

Where was the incident? Can I find that info somewhere?

She has none of the symptoms listed here for Newcastle other than green poop which can mean a ton of other things. I am not convinced this could be Newcastle even a little bit. https://extension.msstate.edu/publications/newcastle-disease-backyard-chickens

I was concerned about fowl cholera, but again the only symptoms there is swollenness and green poop. But that usually is swollen combs, wattles, eyes, etc. None of that is swollen on this bird, is all lower on her face/neck that is swollen.

Both of these kill fairly quickly right? And they spread through the flock quickly? Neither of which has happened either.
I am not fully convinced it could be either of those just based on the very few symptoms that align with them.

 

[azygous]

I think I may have misread the info on Newcastle in Washington County, but there has been a case of avian flu.

These symptoms are unusual and scream out for testing. You might consider contacting these people for directions on how to get your chicken tested.
State Health Laboratories


150 Richmond Street, Suite 100
Providence, RI 02903
Email us
Phone: 401-222-5600
RI Relay 711


Monday - Friday
8:30 AM - 4:30 PM