Swollen cheek on chicken? Tumor?

[TheChickinator]

Has anyone ever seen something like this before? I just saw it for the first time on one our chickens this morning. Other chickens don't appear to have anything similar, but we're going to do a more thorough inspection this afternoon.


She's acting normal. Eating and drinking fine. She's a little over a year old.

We have around 25 chickens, so there's no telling how long she's looked like that and we just may not have noticed it sooner. It's hard to tell in the picture because it's a little blurry, but the left side of that lump is whitish-light bluish in color.

Thanks!

 

[pintail_drake2004]

Anyone?

 

[jonalisa]

Is that swelling completely round like a ball, or is the flap forward in the photo?

 

[pintail_drake2004]

It's a round bulge

 

[jonalisa]

I have not. First guess would be that she was pecked. Is that her wattle?

 

[jonalisa]

Is there any odor around her head?

 

[jonalisa]

The photo is a bit blurry. It looks like atick or small nodule to the right of it?

 

[BlackOrpingtons]

One of my Buff Orpingtons has the exact same thing. I *think* it's an ear infection but I'm not entirely sure.

 

[BlackOrpingtons]

The texture of the lump is very similar to the texture of the swelling of Swollen Head Syndrome, which a couple of my birds had and got over a while ago.

 

[Eggcessive]

It appears that her earlobe is swollen, which can be a sign of infection. I would get QTips, some hydrogen peroxide to apply a few drops into her ear, and after cleaning them with the QTips gently, apply some triple antibiotic (neosporin) ointment into the ear canal. Mites or bacteria, or respiratory infections can cause ear infections. Swollen head syndrome is pretty rare, but sinus infection from mycoplasma (MG) or coryza, among other infections, can be more common, and can cause swelling of the face or eyelid.