Dewclaw83
In the Brooder
- Apr 23, 2016
- 11
- 2
- 47
Photos included, kind of gross. You were warned.
We have an ameraucana hen who is on the older side, though still laying. The issue first occurred while I was away at college. My mother noticed that the hen couldn't seem to close her beak anymore and had way appeared to be a growth on the side of her mouth. My mom realized she could pull the 'growth' out, and so she did.
Now, a few weeks later, I am home and notice the hen's cheek is swollen again and there is a noticeable black thing sticking out the corner, so we grab her. Upon opening her beak, the first thing that hit me was the smell. It smelled like pond scum. Completely disgusting. We pulled the thing out again and it is very large. There is now a gaping hole where it was. The hen, upon being let go, shook her head multiple times, scratching at that cheek with her foot, which my mom said she did the first time too.
My best guess is an infection, but the reoccuring mass of gunk has me concerned. Is this an infection? What should I do to care for this? Especially since it's like in her mouth, it will impact her health if left untreated, and treating could be difficult because she's likely to swallow anything we put on it.
I'm including photos of her mouth when closed and open, before and after the cleaning. I'm also including a photo of what we pulled out of her mouth. It's rather solid and the side open to her throat was kind of grey and hardened.
We have an ameraucana hen who is on the older side, though still laying. The issue first occurred while I was away at college. My mother noticed that the hen couldn't seem to close her beak anymore and had way appeared to be a growth on the side of her mouth. My mom realized she could pull the 'growth' out, and so she did.
Now, a few weeks later, I am home and notice the hen's cheek is swollen again and there is a noticeable black thing sticking out the corner, so we grab her. Upon opening her beak, the first thing that hit me was the smell. It smelled like pond scum. Completely disgusting. We pulled the thing out again and it is very large. There is now a gaping hole where it was. The hen, upon being let go, shook her head multiple times, scratching at that cheek with her foot, which my mom said she did the first time too.
My best guess is an infection, but the reoccuring mass of gunk has me concerned. Is this an infection? What should I do to care for this? Especially since it's like in her mouth, it will impact her health if left untreated, and treating could be difficult because she's likely to swallow anything we put on it.
I'm including photos of her mouth when closed and open, before and after the cleaning. I'm also including a photo of what we pulled out of her mouth. It's rather solid and the side open to her throat was kind of grey and hardened.
