Swollen, crusty tail

[Chicken Slave]

Hello, My Buff Orpington has a nasty thing going w/ her tail. It is swollen and hard, red, and crusty w/ some whitish spots and some black almost scab looking stuff at the base of the feathers. At first I thought she was crusty w/ poo and soaked her in a warm bath for around 20 to 30 minutes. That is when I realized her vent was kind of covered by the swollen tail and was clear and the problem is with the tail itself. Please help, she keeps her tail down as I'm sure it would be painful to raise it. She is eating, drinking, trying real hard to get out to free range.

I isolated her in a dog kennel after the bath w/ a heat lamp and clean bedding, roost and water, getting her some food now.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I will try to post a pic of her nasty tail for added reference.
Thanks!
Don

 

[Chicken Slave]

Uropygial gland clogged? perhaps infected??