Weird swollen thing behind earlobe. Tumor?

[LhickenChicken]

My BPR, Kali, got a strange lump behind her earlobe. It started in December but I thought it was simply swollen because she got pecked, and that it was going to go away soon. But a week ago, I noticed that it got super huge.
In this photo, taken in December, you might be able to see it forming.


Bad side

Good side

What is it? How to treat? It doesn't exactly seem like it's causing pain as much as annoyance. She keeps shaking her head.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Can you look inside the ear to see if there's pus?

 

[LhickenChicken]

Can you look inside the ear to see if there's pus?

Ok, I'll do that tomorrow, and give an update tomorrow morning (I don't know about you, but it's late here and Kali will disapprove of me poking around in her ear while she wants to sleep!)

 

[LhickenChicken]

No pus in either ears.

 

[Eggcessive]

Is the lump hard? If you probe the lump with a sterilized needle, look for pus inside the scab. It is possible that it could be a tumor, a type of skin cancer. Hopefully not, but I would check it.

 

[LhickenChicken]

Is the lump hard? If you probe the lump with a sterilized needle, look for pus inside the scab. It is possible that it could be a tumor, a type of skin cancer. Hopefully not, but I would check it.

It is hard. She hates me touching it, but I'll try poking around in the lump... I just don't want to hurt her because she fidgets and complains when I touch over there. What could cause a tumor if it is one? And what do you think it is?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

It is hard. She hates me touching it, but I'll try poking around in the lump... I just don't want to hurt her because she fidgets and complains when I touch over there. What could cause a tumor if it is one? And what do you think it is?

If you have a helper to hold her, that's always best. Swaddle her in a thin piece of cloth or towel capturing her wings so she can't flap around. Then examine the swelling to see if there's a scab or place that looks like it's pus filled. Could be a feather follicle or two that's impacted or if she was pecked, it's become infected.

Chickens can get tumors just like any other animal. Some are cancerous, others not. Hopefully this is just swelling and pus from injury, since it's painful and tender.

 

[LhickenChicken]

If you have a helper to hold her, that's always best. Swaddle her in a thin piece of cloth or towel capturing her wings so she can't flap around. Then examine the swelling to see if there's a scab or place that looks like it's pus filled. Could be a feather follicle or two that's impacted or if she was pecked, it's become infected.

Chickens can get tumors just like any other animal. Some are cancerous, others not. Hopefully this is just swelling and pus from injury, since it's painful and tender.

I do have a helper that can hold her. It's just that she shakes her head and I can't really do anything about it. I looked at it on the roost, don't see any scabs...

 

[LhickenChicken]

It seems to have gotten bigger since I took the last photo. Now there are pin feathers starting to grow on it.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I do have a helper that can hold her. It's just that she shakes her head and I can't really do anything about it. I looked at it on the roost, don't see any scabs...

You have a helper and 4 hands.
Let her calm down, then hold the head still so you can examine her more closely.