Avian Pathology Cases: 47

For the last two and a half years I’ve gotten together with Dr Vicki Bowes, avian vet/pathologist on a regular basis to pore over files in my memory stick loaded with interesting chicken health issues that I’ve collected for her expert opinion. She refers to it as ‘Show and Tell’ or ‘Best Guess’ and has done a good job at making diagnoses given the information we have at hand, usually only a short paragraph from the chicken’s owner. My job is to write them up to share with my readers as a form of skills building for small flock keepers.

We met up recently to look at almost 30 cases. I’ve grouped these ones together as they all involve bacterial pathogens, in some form or another.

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Breast Blister (photos: Michelle Broy)

Dr Bowes: The sternal bursa contains an empty space which, when abraded, can fill up with a bacterial infection, probably Staphylococcus. I would treat as a dirty abscess: clean, flush it out with Hibitaine and give antibiotics. The pocket needs to stay empty. A vet would cut away the margins and resect it.

Bitchin’ Chickens: Breast blisters are caused by abrasions, which allow bacteria into the tissues. Try to figure out why it happened. Is your hen overweight so that the area over her keel rubs on the roost bar?

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Bacterial Infection

I need help please! There are no local vets that deal with chickens. This lump started small and got huge within a month I was able get as much out as I could, but now I’m worried about what to do next. – Christine Austin  

Dr Bowes: This is an abscess that could be the result of a scratch or bite. I would clean, wash, debride and give antibiotics. It wasn’t necessary to create such a large opening as now you have an open wound, which will probably bleed. FYI: create a smaller opening and leave a skin flap that would cover the wound.

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Tumour Or Abscess

My Salmon Faverolle hen developed a tumour on her head right behind her eye. I put castor oil on it and it fell off the next day leaving an empty socket. Now a new tumour is growing right in front of the old site. I’ve been giving her antibiotics and castor oil treatments everyday. I checked on her today and she’s getting bumps around her beak. – Castle Moat

Dr Bowes: This appears to be composed of fibrin and inflammatory exudates. The raised margins suggest a tumour or long-standing abscess, which could be the result of an injury or even an insect bite (i.e. chiggers). A biopsy would be required to determine the exact nature of the lump. I would need to see current photos to determine what is going on around her beak.

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Abscess

Do you know what this hard mass is on one of our young hens? It will bleed if squeezed. – Dan Farmer  

Dr Bowes: It appears to be an abscess rather than a tumour. The lump itself isn’t bleeding, but the area of attachment is. My concern is that the nostril is affected. You could treat it as an abscess by cleaning and applying an antibacterial topical cream. Don’t pull it off.

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Abscess

At 6½ years old, Mercedes (Appenzeller Spitzhauben x) was my oldest hen. She recently presented with drooling and gaping so I suspected an obstruction in her throat. On inspection I couldn’t see anything, but the necropsy found the culprit: a walnut-sized lump in her throat. I believe it’s a bacterial infection but asked Dr Bowes for her opinion. – Bitchin’ Chickens

Dr Bowes: I can’t determine if the abscess is on, or in, the esophagus. It is not in the trachea. Her drooling was a result of pressure on the trachea. The area around the lump is well vascularized so it took awhile to get to this size. The only way to have treated her was surgical removal of the infection by a vet. It probably was caused by a perforation injury in the esophagus that got infected.

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Glossary

Abscess: a localized collection of pus in a cavity formed from tissues that have been broken down by infectious bacteria. An abscess is caused when bacteria such as staphylococci or streptococci gain access to solid tissue.

Debulk: the removal of as much of a tumour as possible

Exudate: a mass of cells and fluid that has seeped out of blood vessels or an organ, especially in inflammation

Fibrin: an insoluble protein formed from fibrinogen during the clotting of blood. It forms a fibrous mesh that impedes the flow of blood.

Vascular: relating to, affecting, or consisting of a vessel or vessels, especially those which carry blood

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My appreciation goes out to Dr Bowes for stepping up to share her expertise in order to improve the care of small flock poultry.

If you’ve got a case you’d like to share or need help with, drop me a line by using the ‘contact’ button on my homepage.

Featured photo credit: Poultry DVM