Swollen head. Abscess?

[Vita1910]

Here are some new photos. It doesn't look good.

I have some antibiotic ointment at home with me here that a family member was using on an infected wound. Could I use that on her do you think?
My local vet has already said that she would want to refer her to a specialist hospital ($$$$$$!)

I'm still bringing her indoors at night. In the daytime she's outside in the half of the run that I've fenced off for her.
My other bantam really tries to peck her given half a chance so I'm keeping them separate apart from the times they roam in the garden with me keeping a close eye on them.
Eating and drinking well. Running around happily.

 

[Eggcessive]

Yes, triple antibiotic or bacitracin ointment can be used on chickens. Is she having any symptoms such as watery eyes, drainage from nostrils, sneeze, or gasping? A couple of times here I have seen swollen heads that had turned out to be tumors. Hopefully, her swelling will eventually go down. Let us know how she is doing.

 

[Vita1910]

No gasping, sneezing, watery eyes or drainage from nostrils. I will apply the antibiotic ointment now. Fingers crossed.

 

[alinas2010]

Poor girl, I hope she starts improving more and more every day. Keep the ointment on it at all times so it stays moist, that will at least make it feel a bit better. Be sure the ointment doesn’t have pain relief in it, as those ingredients can be poisonous to poultry.

 

[Farmgirl283420]

Is your hen doing any better?

 

[Vita1910]

Many thanks for asking about her.

She is active, eating well and generally a happy hen, apart from the awful swelling on her head. I've been applying antimicrobial spray and an antibiotic cream several times a day but there's no change to the size of the swelling.

I've been doing a lot of searching on the internet. I think she probably has a cancerous tumour and it will be terminal before too long. Our vet is willing to euthanise her if/when her condition deteriorates. Meanwhile I'm keeping a close eye on her condition and she's enjoying some extra treats.

I decided against taking her to the vet for investigation as our local vet has no experience of chickens and would want to refer her to a specialist. I decided that it would be unkind to put her through a lot of travel and stressful investigations especially as I don't believe it would lead to recovery given what I've been researching from others' stories. For the time being she's a happy hen living peacefully in her familiar environment. Maybe she will make a miraculous recovery - I certainly hope so.

She's a really sweet natured girl and only 8 months so this is a hard.
Your interest and support is much appreciated.

 

[Farmgirl283420]

I’m so sorry. It must be really hard. I’m glad she’s doing well currently.

 

[alinas2010]

Many thanks for asking about her.

She is active, eating well and generally a happy hen, apart from the awful swelling on her head. I've been applying antimicrobial spray and an antibiotic cream several times a day but there's no change to the size of the swelling.

I've been doing a lot of searching on the internet. I think she probably has a cancerous tumour and it will be terminal before too long. Our vet is willing to euthanise her if/when her condition deteriorates. Meanwhile I'm keeping a close eye on her condition and she's enjoying some extra treats.

I decided against taking her to the vet for investigation as our local vet has no experience of chickens and would want to refer her to a specialist. I decided that it would be unkind to put her through a lot of travel and stressful investigations especially as I don't believe it would lead to recovery given what I've been researching from others' stories. For the time being she's a happy hen living peacefully in her familiar environment. Maybe she will make a miraculous recovery - I certainly hope so.

She's a really sweet natured girl and only 8 months so this is a hard.
Your interest and support is much appreciated.

Im so sorry, I hope that isn’t the case also glad she is doing well currently.

@Eggcessive or @Wyorp Rock is there a chance that the comb needs lanced or the scab removed or something to let pus out? Would an antibiotic help?

 

[Eggcessive]

I’m sorry her head is still so swollen. I would not recommend lancing it since I really am not sure what is causing this. @Vita1910 will you try to have your state vet do a necropsy on her if you lose her? Here is a list of state vet labs who do them:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry...7IOlHOhP-eD8qMtZ70RNq6BMO9kVUn3x6so7q0Z_JgEr8
Oh I forgot that you are in the UK. Do you know what caused the scabby area on the back of her head? Could she have been pecked?

 

[Vita1910]

The scabby area was caused by pecking from my other hen. I think the swelling in the comb came first and this attracted pecking from my other hen. The scabs have largely healed now that I'm keeping the two of them separated.

The fact that the swelling is hard and that she's not showing any other signs of being ill make me think it's a tumour rather than an infection