Swollen bump below eye

[First Lady]

Hi everyone! I'm a voracious reader of information here, but I haven't posted except to introduce myself.

Today, while my 21 week old buckeyes were out of the pen for a free range, I noticed one of them has a whitish bump near her eye, between the eye and beak. It looks like a mosquito bite. It is soft and squishy. She is eating and drinking normally. About three or four days ago, she began to squat when I enter the pen, just like one of her sisters which is now laying daily did just before she began to lay. Her behavior and color are good. There is no discharge from either eyes or nasal passages.

I searched for quite a while, and while I can find similar symptoms and photos, all of the ones which look or sound the same say the lump is hard rather than soft, so I'm stumped.

Here is a photo of the bump:

I'm grateful for any help you can offer. I'm still a pretty new chicken mama, and am learning loads from all of you. Thanks for being here for me!

 

[kuntrygirl]

I'm not exactly sure what could be wrong but I'm thinking maybe a wasp stung her or something?

Hopefully someone else will come along with more info.

 

[First Lady]

Thank you kuntrygirl, for a quick response. I don't think it is a bee sting, because it is so soft and squishy, but I could always be wrong. It wouldn't be the first time.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
You're welcome. Do you think she could have eaten something (flower, etc.) that she could be alleregic to. Maybe an allergic reaction? How long has she been like this?

 

[First Lady]

Only just today. She foraged around in all the usual spots, so I don't think it is an allergy, either, or she would have shown signs of it before now.

 

[First Lady]

Went to the vet this morning. He feels it is a secondary infection from something that got caught in the sinus and put her on an antibiotic.

I LOVE my vet! He has his own flock of chickens, so he had his wife come in to see Lucy, and we all talked chickens for a bit.

 

[kuntrygirl]

This is great news. What is the name of the antibiotic? I hope your baby gets better.

 

[SIMPleChick]

Yes, what antibiotic did your vet give and how much did the visit cost if you don't mind me asking??

 

[First Lady]

The antibiotic is SMZ/TMP suspension. I have to give it twice daily. The fun part is that I'm going to have to hold Lucy with one hand, open her beak with the other hand, and grow a third one to squirt in the medicine. I may end up wearing more of it than she takes in.

The vet bill was about $50 with medicine included.