Woah - VERY large round scab on neck!

[CocosGirls]

My sweet girl has a very large section of her neck that is all scab! It's a huge diameter - probably 2+ inches or so and it feels like it may be below the surface some. Does anyone know what this may be? She seems to be feeling OK, and I'm wondering if this is an abscess that is oozing? Mites? Any input is appreciated.

 

[Eggcessive]

A little hard to tell, but some possibilities would be feather picking, ingrown feathers or a feather cyst, or a tumor. If it was a feather cyst, you could sterilize a needle and try to dig into the skin to look for an ingrown feather. Hopefully, others will chime in.

 

[Sunshine Flock]

I'm hoping others see this discussion and post some suggestions for you.

Does it feel hard or squishy? Have you looked at it with a magnifying glass? I've found this to be very helpful when assessing my chickens.

It wouldn't hurt to give her an epsom salt bath and drip a saturated washcloth over her neck. In fact it would help to flush the area and provide some healing to any wounds.

 

[Sunshine Flock]

Okay, I just clicked on the photo and then clicked the link at the top right to super expand it for a better view. Then I zoomed in using my keyboard.

I have no experience with whatever it is that's causing this. But I can at least describe for others what I'm seeing. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it looks like extensive crusty scabbing, almost dandruff like but rougher in texture.

It's layered like discs of hardened scabs leaning up against each other, not just a rough scabbed surface laying flat over the skin. And I'm seeing perfectly round holes in the middle of scale-like dried dandruff, presumably where feathers once were.

Can you remove any of that with tweezers to examine it and to also see what's underneath?

 

[Granny Hatchet]

almost looks like psoriasis

 

[Sunshine Flock]

Yes, it sure does. I also recall seeing similar photos on mite infested chickens.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

I would give her? a good soak and antibiotic on the patch to soften it then treat for mites. Wouldnt hurt anything .

 

[Lady of McCamley]

The big question is:
Is it hard? or is it squishy?

Squishy signals infection or cyst.
Hard signals tumor or scab.

Is it attached to the body? Or can it be pried off?
Hard and attached to the body, as in rooted to body, indicates tumor.
Obviously if it is something that can be soaked off, then it is dried scab from an injury or pecking or something.

I did not get great results for me. I had a hen that got a hard knot that was part of her body. It eventually grew to such a large size that I euthanized her as it was interfering with her ability to move and poo (it was on her backside by her vent).

I cleaned and treated with antibiotics as some bacterial infections can produce scabby type lesions, but that didn't help.

So more investigation is needed to see what it may be.

LofMc

 

[CocosGirls]

Thank you so much for your input! It's definitely hard and firmly attached to her skin. When you say attached to the body, do you mean attached to her actual neck? If so, I would say it's on the skin. I have one girl that I have isolated who I am treating for mites and was thinking it may be related? I checked this girl over well and didn't see anything, but I'm not ruling that out. What are your thoughts?

 

[CocosGirls]

Yes, it sure does. I also recall seeing similar photos on mite infested chickens.

I would give her? a good soak and antibiotic on the patch to soften it then treat for mites. Wouldnt hurt anything .

Okay, I just clicked on the photo and then clicked the link at the top right to super expand it for a better view. Then I zoomed in using my keyboard.

I have no experience with whatever it is that's causing this. But I can at least describe for others what I'm seeing. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it looks like extensive crusty scabbing, almost dandruff like but rougher in texture.

It's layered like discs of hardened scabs leaning up against each other, not just a rough scabbed surface laying flat over the skin. And I'm seeing perfectly round holes in the middle of scale-like dried dandruff, presumably where feathers once were.

Can you remove any of that with tweezers to examine it and to also see what's underneath?

Yes - that's a great description! The scab is pretty firmly attached and I am sure any attempt to pull it back will be painful. I'm thinking of placing a wet washcloth on it for a while and see if I can loosen it up some.