Big lump in hen throat

[WeNeedDrPhil]

Hey everyone, been a while since I was here, but I need some help. My hen of about 5 years suddenly seems to want to sleep a lot and while she seems interested in food and water, doesn't want to eat/drink. Although her crop isn't entirely empty. She is a bit sluggish in getting around, but doesn't look sick or weak and her feathers aren't dragging. Once I decided to check her beak since I felt a lump in her throat and on the very back of her throat is a massive white lump covering about 70% of her thoat. This obviously got me worried and I tried to push it down with a tiny stick thinking it was food, but it doesn't budge. Her saliva is very think and slimy. Her beak smells like DEATH. This lump doesn't look like the usual feed I give her but it sort of resembles the feed I give my chicks. Could this be cancer or tonsillitis? Do chickens even have that??

 

[Saaniya]

It's not lump it's a bacterial infection called canker she need antibiotics
Metrodinazole

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I agree, that looks like Canker.
Read all the posts by @dawg53 in this thread for more information about treatment https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...er-fish-zole-treatment.1232922/#post-19786143

 

[micstrachan]

I agree it looks like canker. I’m not sure what the treatment is for that.

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Greetings WeNeedDrPhil,

It would be good if you could take the hen to see a vet.

If that is not possible, let's move forward with some suggestions.

Saaniya may be correct.

She could have canker or wet pox, or even something else. But, Canker and wet pox are more common, treatment is different for both.

I have no experience with canker or wet pox, only what I have read.

If it is canker, which is caused by a protozoa, she will need a specific medication, metronidazole (Flagyl). You can purchase the tablets (for fish), at a pet shop, or online. My research shows the dose is 250 mg. (125 mg. for bantams), per day, for 5 days. If you have more chickens in the same pen, they may benefit if you medicate the water with acidified copper sulfate, if they have been exposed by drinking from the same waterers. Use only glass or plastic water containers if you use copper sulfate.

If the chicken is falling over, or has foul smell coming from the mouth, I am leaning towards the canker. Sometimes there is also watery or sticky eyes, or diarrhea, dehydration, crop problems. This disease can move slowly or quickly kill her. Recovered birds remain carriers.

If it is wet pox, which is caused by a virus, swabbing the mouth sore with a saline solution will soften them. If needed, remove with a swab. If there is thick discharge at the back of the mouth preventing the chicken from eating, soak a swab in betadine, then, carefully swab it off. It may bleed so work gently. A broad spectrum antibiotic, is also recommended to prevent secondary infection. Add 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, to one gallon drinking water to prevent the virus from spreading.

During the treatment it may seem that the sores are not getting better, but then they should gradually heal. Be diligent about cleaning and disinfecting the waterers for at least four weeks.

* * * * * *
If the chicken is not eating, you may want to syringe feed, with a bird meal replacement. Or grind some feed in a spice or coffee mill, then sift to a fine powder. Mix with water, and feed with a syringe. Go slowly, as he could choke/aspirate. You can also put it into a dish and see if she'll eat on her own. She needs nourishment if she is going to survive. Sores from both conditions can spread into the throat, preventing the chicken from eating.

I highly recommend a vet, as I am not a professional, just a chicken keeper like you.

These are documented treatments from my poultry medical books. I hope they are of some use to you.

These are my thoughts on your chicken's issue. I hope I have been helpful.

God Bless

 

[coach723]

If you are in the US you can get metronidazole without a prescription as Fish Zole, just do a search, there are quite a few sources.
Merck Vet Manual says correct dose is 60mg/kg of bird weight for 5 - 6 days.
https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poultry/trichomonosis/overview-of-trichomonosis
PoultryDVM says that thyme extract is also effective given orally, does not give a dose amount or frequencey: http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/canker
I've never had to treat for it so can't personally say if it would work or not.

 

[WeNeedDrPhil]

Thanks for all your replies guys, I really appreciate it! After painstakingly convincing my mom that It's actually a serious and contagious condition, I'll be heading to the vet to see if they can give me some antibiotics. Although I doubt this vet in particular would have any copper sulfate or fish tablets, and ordering online isn't really an option for me, is there any other way to prevent this from spreading?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thanks for all your replies guys, I really appreciate it! After painstakingly convincing my mom that It's actually a serious and contagious condition, I'll be heading to the vet to see if they can give me some antibiotics. Although I doubt this vet in particular would have any copper sulfate or fish tablets, and ordering online isn't really an option for me, is there any other way to prevent this from spreading?

Glad you will be able to see the vet, they should be able to prescribe the antibiotics that you need.

To help prevent the spread, I would separate her - if you have a cage or kennel that you can place in your run so she can still see the others that would be good. She needs to eat/drink out of her own water containers and the others birds don't need access to those. Clean the food/water containers with a 10% bleach solution daily, rinse well.

For your flock, I would also scrub out/clean the food/water containers with a 10%bleach solution and provide them with fresh food and water daily. Watch the others for any signs that they may have canker as well.

 

[WeNeedDrPhil]

Thanks for the advice! Separating her and letting her see the others should actually be no problem for me. Hope she gets well soon.
What should I do with the hen after she recovers?

 

[Eggcessive]

Does your chicken have any other symptoms besides the tissue in the beak and the bad odor? Canker is a disease common in pigeons that is pretty contagious. Your local vet can prescribe metronidazole. Even the local drug store can fill a prescription for Flagyl. Fish Zole is pretty easy if you have a relative that can order it:
http://www.allivet.com/mobile/p-239...iotzc-_he1mk_x5gyhiysrjhc_y429_yaav6fealw_wcb