What in the heck is this? Please help

[badhabitz98]

i was out of town for a week and came back a couple days ago. I noticed some of the chickens were molting around their necks. It's a little early for this area, but didn't feel too concerned because we just went through Harvey and the coop was flooded for a couple days. I thought stress brought it on early. My rooster is impossible to catch without three people helping so I rarely get to check him over like I can with the girls. I noticed something weird on the side of his neck so we caught him and I got a pic of it. Please tell me what you think this is. Spider bite maybe? Snake bite? Any other ideas? I sprayed it down with veterycin and I have blu kote I can use. He acts 100% normal. The girls can attest to that one lol! But obviously this has to hurt. Any suggestions on what else I can treat it with?

 

[Eggcessive]

I would look for a vet. A huge tumor comes to mind or possibly a fungal infection. A large predator wound that has become infected or maggot infested (fly strike) might also be possible. There looks like pus around 6 o'clock in the second pic. Can you see any small maggot larvae moving around? I would think about soaking the wound in Epsom salts, or in weak betadine or chlorhexidene. Then put plain neosporin ointment on it after looking for and removing maggots.It looks dry-- how often are you using the Vetricyn?

 

[badhabitz98]

He's a young rooster so I didn't really think about it being a tumor (even though age doesn't always matter). I was really thinking more like a bite or wound that became infected because he definitely didn't have this before I left to go out of town. I didn't see any maggots or anything moving around. I have colorless iodine, would that work? I also have epsom salt and neosporin. How would you go about soaking a flighty rooster's neck though? As for how often I'm treating, I had just found it, chased him down, got a picture and sprayed it with veterycin before I posted this.

 

[Eggcessive]

You might wait until dark when he is asleep on the roost, then grab him and try to treat him. You could mix a warm tub of soapy water with the iodine or Epsom salts, and dab it on the wound with a soaked wash cloth to try and soften the scab. Or soak his whole body in the tub for about 20 minutes or as long as he will tolerate it. Look for any maggots falling off in the water, and try to gently rub the wound to get the puss off. Dry him well in a towel, possibly blow him dry, and apply the antibiotic ointment to the scab. Place him in a crate inside where it is warm overnight on a dry towel. Place food and water in it in the AM. Think about a vet in the AM, or repeat the bath again tomorrow.

 

[badhabitz98]

I'll see what I can do tonight when they go to roost. Unfortunately, a vet isn't an option. I'm an hour away from the nearest one that'll see chickens and they're too expensive. I handle treatment myself or put them down when I need to, although I cry everytime I have to do it. Thank you for your help. Fingers crossed it gets better. I really like this rooster!

 

[badhabitz98]

My aunt just took a look at it and is thinking brown recluse or copperhead bite since it's necrotic. She's got a mini "farm" and is also an RN so she was able to tell me a couple other things to try. I'm running to tractor supply in the morning. The good thing is she thinks his body seems to be taking care of the infection pretty well on his own so hopefully he pulls through.

 

[chicmom]

WOAH! That is huge! I'm amazed that he's doing so well! Good luck!

 

[badhabitz98]

I know! I feel terrible for him and I wish I would have seen it yesterday instead of today. This is why I don't like being out of town. I always come home to surprises... The odd thing is he doesn't act like it's bothering him at all. I squeezed on it a little and he didn't even flinch. He's one tough bird, that's for sure! It was so hard to really see it until I brushed his feathers out of the way though. It's pretty covered up when he's strutting around doing rooster things. I just happened to catch a glimpse of it when he fluffed his feathers near me.

 

[auntphibian]

M

I would look for a vet. A huge tumor comes to mind or possibly a fungal infection. A large predator wound that has become infected or maggot infested (fly strike) might also be possible. There looks like pus around 6 o'clock in the second pic. Can you see any small maggot larvae moving around? I would think about soaking the wound in Epsom salts, or in weak betadine or chlorhexidene. Then put plain neosporin ointment on it after looking for and removing maggots.It looks dry-- how often are you using the Vetricyn?

Maggots are actually a good thing, as they eat the dead flesh. After you clean it good, put cayenne pepper paste in it, as much as you can, then bandage it. It will form a hard cayenne scab that will help heal it from the inside out. Just leave it alone. You can put it in their food as well, as it has healing properties. It works and doesn't seem to even sting on animals.

 

[Eggcessive]

Maggots in an wound can kill a chicken. Just read some of the many threads on BYC on fly stike. An injury or wound may become infested, and the maggots will bore into the skin. It happens frequently in summer with flies around the coop, and more often affects the vent area or wounds from spurs. Of course I am not sure that maggots are what is happening. We all here just want to help and learn, so if you get any answers, let us know. Please update your thread on how the rooster is doing.