weird lump in eye, but no other symptoms

Queen Maisie · **Joined:** Sun May 30, 2010 10:20 pm **Posts:** 9

I bought 3 silkie hens from a reputable supplier at 8 weeks old. One month later, all 3 seem happy, bobbing about their run and are putting on weight and lovely fluffy feathers. However, one has an awful red lump with yellow in it that is distending her bottom eyelid. See attached photo.

I don't know if this is relevant or I am imagining it, but when I observe her she sometimes scratches her head with her foot (don't know if that's related, or the other ones do it too).

This is our first venture with chickens and we've all grown very attached to them. We are worried she has a tumour or something we can't treat. PLease, anyone, advice on where to start and what to do appreciated greatly.

oozcorpse · **Joined:** Sun Nov 04, 2007 8:15 am **Posts:** 2715

Locate an Avian Vet near you and take her there

it may only be a blocked duct but I'd get it checked out - as she is scratching it it is bothering her and it may get infected if it isnt already
being reddish/pink the others would be attracted to the colour and they may peck her and do terrible damage

mummaroo · **Posted:** Tue Jun 01, 2010 9:53 am

I took my little black house bantam to the vet Yesterday as she looks similar to this. Mother was having trouble holding up her head and had swelling on one side of the face.Very hot.I thought she had been bitten by a spider or something.
Turns out she has a badly blocked sinus.I am giving her injectable antibiotic twice daily for 3 days and then 1 daily till the swelling is gone.Also some cream to rub around her face that is swollen to help there.I am spoon feeding her and hopefully she will be fine.

Queen Maisie · **Joined:** Sun May 30, 2010 10:20 pm **Posts:** 9

Thank you Mummaroo and Soozorps. I will head off to the vet as soon as I can. I think you are onto something... as I say, she seems well enough to be bopping around with her sisters, so something like an obstruction, not a disease, seems more likely to me to. I'll keep the forum posted on progress. Thanks again!

Queen Maisie · **Joined:** Sun May 30, 2010 10:20 pm **Posts:** 9

Just to keep you updated, we found an avian vet not too far away but had to wait 3-4 days before we could get in. Upshot is the vet thinks its a virus infecting her sinus and was disturbed that it had progressed to infect under her tongue as well. He excised the lump in her eye, which by then was bigger and more yellowy, and sent her home with antibiotics to be taken orally. I was given the impression not to get our hopes up that she would survive (which filled my daughter's eyes with tears!). At any rate, we have been tending her day and night with the medication and she does seem to be better around the eye, and she is still as lively as ever.... but I don't think we're out of the woods yet. Plus I think we're about to run out of anitbiotics and the infection isn't over and done with.

Will keep you posted.

mummaroo · **Posted:** Thu Jun 10, 2010 1:30 pm

Contact the vet again and tell them how she is going.Ask them for more antibiotics. Vets like to be updated on how the animals are going.Sometimes they just assume they wont survive and don't give enough medication.You need to talk to them.Good luck

Queen Maisie · **Joined:** Sun May 30, 2010 10:20 pm **Posts:** 9

I'm glad I read your reply, Mummaroo. I will ring the vet for more antibiotics. Her eye is ok now, but her right cheek is swollen (see photos). She's still energetic, but the lump makes me worry and we have run out of medicine. Your suggestion that vets don't always give enough antibiotics gels with me because the vet seemed to think that if this didn't work, she'd require surgery which was expensive and not likely to be successful, so he seemed to be saying "don't bother". BUT maybe more antibiotics will help. Worth a try! Will keep you posted.

oozcorpse · **Joined:** Sun Nov 04, 2007 8:15 am **Posts:** 2715

sorry i've been out of 'it' for a few days
I have to agree with everything mummaroo has said - I have also had the 'dont bother' experience with vets - our current one is as maniacal as I am and doesnt give up until there is no life left to treat - so yep follow up with the vet and keep us informed
keep these good pics coming too = they might help someone else in the future

parvo · **Joined:** Sat Jan 02, 2010 7:39 pm **Posts:** 735

Does the lump feel soft or hard? If it's gone hard then the antibiotics are unlikely to help much as they won't be able to penetrate into the infection as well and the chicken's immune system will have problems trying to remove the infection. In this case surgery unfortunately may be your only option. However, I agree with mummaroo that more antibiotics may help if there still is some fluid pus in the lump.
So keep going and good luck.
Parvo

Queen Maisie · **Joined:** Sun May 30, 2010 10:20 pm **Posts:** 9

Thank you so much for your encouragement and advice. Just got off the phone from the vet surgery and they're giving us more antibiotics.

The lump isn't hard, so there may be hope yet! Whatever the outcome, at least we'll know we're giving it our best shot!

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weird lump in eye, but no other symptoms

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