Warts or ???

[Airyaman]

I have one Speckled Sussex only with some type of spots on her head. They are not in her mouth or on unfeathered parts of her body, but under her feathers on her head only. I thought they might be some type of scabs but the growth appears to be white with no signs of irritation or redness whatsoever. The "scabs" are completely white.

They don't seem to bother her but they do make her look rather goofy because she looks like she has "bed head" because the way they make her head look disheveled.

I tried to get pictures but holding her with one arm and taking pictures with the other did not yield much good results. Here is what I was able to get:

Not much to work with I know, but just trying to get some ideas.

 

[thecatumbrella]

I'm not seeing it, I'm sorry! She's clearly young, and when they go through their juvenile molts, the head and neck will be the last to grow in feathers. It can get kind of crusty in that area. Are you just seeing the keratin around the new feathers?

 

[Airyaman]

I'm not seeing it, I'm sorry! She's clearly young, and when they go through their juvenile molts, the head and neck will be the last to grow in feathers. It can get kind of crusty in that area. Are you just seeing the keratin around the new feathers?

She is 12 weeks.

That could be possible but they are noticeable lumps, some as big as bb's or so. I've not seen that on any other birds so unusual (here).

 

[thecatumbrella]

That could be possible but they are noticeable lumps, some as big as bb's or so. I've not seen that on any other birds so unusual (here).

Can you get a helper to take photos while you part the feathers? Are they soft or hard?

 

[Airyaman]

Can you get a helper to take photos while you part the feathers? Are they soft or hard?

Hard, much like a crusted over scab. But I see no signs of trauma or anything.

No helpers today (l live alone, and my dog doesn't have opposable thumbs!).

 

[thecatumbrella]

Hard, much like a crusted over scab. But I see no signs of trauma or anything.

No helpers today (l live alone, and my dog doesn't have opposable thumbs!).

Hmmm. I wondering if it's the chicken equivalent of an ingrown hair. Are they painful to the touch? Does she scratch at them? You could try putting a warm compress on them and see if it does anything.

 

[Airyaman]

Hmmm. I wondering if it's the chicken equivalent of an ingrown hair. Are they painful to the touch? Does she scratch at them? You could try putting a warm compress on them and see if it does anything.

I can't say for sure if they are painful. I've never seen her pick at them and I've been observing her for the last two days to see if she does. Nope, acts like the rest. She doesn't like my feeling around her head but she's probably one of the fussier of this flock, so hard to say.

 

[Poultrybonkers]

That bump on its head are you sure they are not mixes with a vaulted breed?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

They are not in her mouth or on unfeathered parts of her body, but under her feathers on her head only. I thought they might be some type of scabs but the growth appears to be white with no signs of irritation or redness whatsoever. The "scabs" are completely white.

Is the growth on her skin or at the base of her feathers? Do you see any crawling bugs on the top of her head? Long shot would be you are seeing lice nits. (photo below)

I do see some irritation and scaly/scabby skin above the ear, is that what the lumps look like?

 

[Airyaman]

That bump on its head are you sure they are not mixes with a vaulted breed?

Don't think this is it, though i can see how the photo might depict that. No, her head feathers just have a frazzled look due to the bumps.