Hi peoples, I have a question.
I've moved into a place where there are some resident poultry; they're a new lot after foxes and mysterious deaths killed the last lot. I don't know how old they are, where they're from (a backyard breeder I think), what breeds or mixes they are, or anything except that they're a bit underfed as a rule and perhaps exposed to chemicals like slugbait as they are ranged in fallow garden beds to break up and de-grass and manure the soil.
Before anyone suggests treatments, I will say that they are not my poultry and I won't be discussing this with the very busy owner unless I have something fairly solid to go on (he's not an animal person per se, if you know what I mean. There have been some mysterious animal deaths on this property, not just poultry, and it could be from a variety of things).
I'm thinking to bring my own poultry here, but have never seen this issue before and am hoping to get some info first. If I wind up caretaking this property though, these poultry would become my concern and I would be treating them, although it seems this issue is going away on its own.
Anyway: pertinent details: there are about 8 young ones and a few adult hens. Some of the young ones have a hard white lump that projects from their top beak, beginning right under the very start of their crest where the skin meets the beak. All the younger ones either have this or show signs of having recently had this, and I've seen a thread on here where another bird had this white lump, and it was the same age (roughly) as these. Can't find that thread though.
The adult hens sharing the cage do not have this or any symptom of having had it. But the few younger ones that don't have the white lump have an open bloodless hole where it recently was.
I think this is probably an infectious disease. Any information on it anyone can offer? I've been unable to find anything and haven't seen anything like this before first-hand. Here's some photos... Sorry for the quality, I don't have a better camera yet.
I've moved into a place where there are some resident poultry; they're a new lot after foxes and mysterious deaths killed the last lot. I don't know how old they are, where they're from (a backyard breeder I think), what breeds or mixes they are, or anything except that they're a bit underfed as a rule and perhaps exposed to chemicals like slugbait as they are ranged in fallow garden beds to break up and de-grass and manure the soil.
Before anyone suggests treatments, I will say that they are not my poultry and I won't be discussing this with the very busy owner unless I have something fairly solid to go on (he's not an animal person per se, if you know what I mean. There have been some mysterious animal deaths on this property, not just poultry, and it could be from a variety of things).
I'm thinking to bring my own poultry here, but have never seen this issue before and am hoping to get some info first. If I wind up caretaking this property though, these poultry would become my concern and I would be treating them, although it seems this issue is going away on its own.
Anyway: pertinent details: there are about 8 young ones and a few adult hens. Some of the young ones have a hard white lump that projects from their top beak, beginning right under the very start of their crest where the skin meets the beak. All the younger ones either have this or show signs of having recently had this, and I've seen a thread on here where another bird had this white lump, and it was the same age (roughly) as these. Can't find that thread though.
The adult hens sharing the cage do not have this or any symptom of having had it. But the few younger ones that don't have the white lump have an open bloodless hole where it recently was.
I think this is probably an infectious disease. Any information on it anyone can offer? I've been unable to find anything and haven't seen anything like this before first-hand. Here's some photos... Sorry for the quality, I don't have a better camera yet.
